PRESS RELEASE

18 April 1995

U.S. Official Criticises Hurd on NPT 

John Holum, Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency today criticised the view of Britain's Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, on a key aspect of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Holum stated that he; "wanted to take issue with the idea that the Treaty enshrines the status quo" when asked to comment on a statement by Hurd that Britain's nuclear status was, "enshrined in the Treaty." In the same discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament (Jan 18 1995) Mr Hurd also stated that: "it is not necessary...to talk about the abolition of nuclear weapons. In fact, I think that setting as a goal you actually make rather less likely the achievement of stability." In contrast, Klaus Kinkel, German Foreign Minister, said in New York today that: "stopping proliferation for all time and a permanent disarmament pledge by the nuclear weapons states are major preconditions for the solution of [terrorism, environmental and social issues].

Holum went on to say that Britain was already taking part in informal five power talks in Geneva on the "roles, missions and purposes for which they have nuclear weapons." Holum was speaking at a press breakfast sponsored by the Campaign for the NPT a coalition of Washington arms control groups. In contrast to this U.S. statement that Britain is already engaged in talks, Hurd is expected to say in New York today that Britain would only talk about nuclear disarmament when the US and Russian forces "were counted in hundreds, rather than thousands,"

Hurd's speech in New York is also expected to provide the public assurance that, "We all endorse the concept of nuclear disarmament", and emphasise unilateral disarmament steps undertaken by the UK.

"The British Government seems so afraid of being dragged into multilateral disarmament talks that it is embracing unilateral measures - something the Conservative Party has opposed for years." said Dan Plesch, Director of the British American Security Information Council.

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