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N E W S  R E L E A S E

D A T E

21 June 1974

AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT AT INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC  ENERGY AGENCY BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING

The following is the text of a statement made by  thf Australian Resident Representative to the IAEA Board, of  Governors meeting which was held in Vienna between 11 and 13  June 1974.

The Australian view on the underground nuclear  explosion carried out by India was expressed by the Australian  Foreign Minister, Senator Willesee, in a statement issued on  21 May. This made three points.

First,  that the explosion raises important questions -   about the use of nuclear explosives for peaceful purposes.  In  the Australian view such explosions should only take place  within the framework of comprehensive controls internationally

agreed.  The latest event underlies the importance of progress  in establishing international arrangements in this area and  the need for universal acceptance of them.

Second,  the Minister noted that the explosion had  been described as a "peaceful nuclear explosion experiment"  and that all intention of producing nuclear weapons had been  disavowed. .

Third,  the Minister noted that although the strong  opposition of the Indian Government had been reiterated to the  Military use of nuclear explosions,  the explosion also had to  be considered in relation to the non-proliferation treaty. The Australian Government,  he said, viewed with concern any  action that might encourage or facilitate the future  proliferation of nuclear weapons. He believed that Australia's

concern in this respect would be widely shared in the  international community. It was a matter of regret that a  number of countries, including India, had not become parties  to the non-proliferation treaty.

2 .

Mr Chairman, we are ourselves firmly committed to  the NPT, and we are deeply concerned about any actions that '   are not fully consistent with the principles enunciated in it. We have looked upon this treaty as a major element in the

development of a stable and credible international security  system. We urge all those states which have not yet signed  and ratified the treaty to do so without delay.

Unhappily there is no way of distinguishing  between military and peaceful nuclear explosive technology.  This is recognised in article 1 of the treaty itself. As I  have said, in the Australian view all explosions such as that  recently conducted should only take place within the framework

of comprehensive controls internationally agreed.

We believe that the interests of non-proliferation  require that there should be no further nuclear explosions  outside the arrangements provided.by the NPT. As a first and  immediate step we would welcome clear and firm unilateral  declarations by non-NPT countries that they will refrain from  developing nuclear explosions for any purpose, and from  assisting other countries to do so.

As we have said before in meetings of the agency,  appropriate safeguards should be the necessary accompaniment  of the spread of nuclear technology, and we believe that the  agency’s safeguards system has an essential role to play.  Accordingly, we recognise our obligation under article III(2)

of the NPT not to supply nuclear materials or equipment to  any non-nuclear weapon state except Linder safeguards, as the  treaty itself provides.

As a result of the Indian explosion we believe that  it will be necessary to re-examine, with a view to strengthening  and improving them, international measures to contain the  proliferation of nuclear technology which could lead to the

development of weapons.

We urge all responsible members of the internetional  community to exert their utmost efforts towards this end. In  particular we urge the nuclear powers to give their full support  and energies to the achievement of satisfactory and universally  acceptable arrangements for the containment of nuclear  proliferation.

Finally, Mr Chairman, in view of the grave risks  inherent in nuclear proliferation, we would also urge that  even greater efforts be made to achieve a comprehensive test  ban treaty.

