WHY EXPERIMENTAL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS?
The total number of atmospheric explosions carried out to date by the countries building
nuclear arsenals is:
195 for the United States.
141 for the USSR,
21 for Great Britain,
4 for France,
3 for China.
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France has had to note that the partial disarmament measures taken or contemplated—such
as the signature of the Moscow Treaty—far from limiting the power of the countries equipped with
the greatest means of destruction, have actually solidified their fead.
France has always considered disarmament a basic goal which deserves her greatest efforts.
But, when conditions of a nuclear threat continue to weigh on the world, France must take steps to
free herself-of that threat. The tests she is conducting are merely one link in her defense program,
and an essential one in view of its state of advancement.
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The construction of a French deterrent force, which obviously has received Parliamentary
approval, is in no way designed to serve aggressive or expansionist purposes.
All precautions have been taken so that the French tests will in no wayaffect the health of
the populations close to or far from the test sites and will disturb their normal activities as little as
possible. Compared to the measures taken during the hundreds of tests conducted by other countries,
which have not significantly raised the level of radiation in man’s environment, these precautions
we
appear especially strict.