Nuclear reduction, testing, and non-proliferation. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Arms Control, International Organizations, and Security Agreements of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-Fourth Congress, Second Session on S. Con. Res. 69

Testimony at a one-day hearing on S. Concurrent Resolution 69 addressed the problem of the proliferation of nuclear materials, underground nuclear testing, and the need to reduce the spread of nuclear capability. Sen. Alan Cranston, sponsor of the bill, urged (1) the Vladivostok accord be translated into a treaty, (2) an end to underground nuclear testing, (3) an end to exports of nuclear technology to countries not accepting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, (4) an agreement that plutonium be reprocessed in secure regional centers, and (5) a halt in weapons grade material for weapons use and a subsequent sharing of nuclear enrichment facility product among those nations signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty and accepting the IAEA standards. The intent of this resolution is to strengthen the controls already accomplished by Salt I, IAEA, and the Partial Test Ban and Non-Proliferation treaties. Concern was expressed over unnecessary secrecy, lack of cooperation among the seven nuclear powers, the adequacy of controls, and the ease with which a country can join IAEA, obtain information, and then withdraw. Although the resolution would not be binding, it was felt to be an appropriate declaration of policy because it draws attention to the close linkage of nuclear weapons and peaceful reactors. Senator Gravel opposed the weakness of the resolution and suggested a unilateral withdrawal from nuclear energy by the U.S. in hopes that other countries will be mature enough to follow the good example