Statements

The Russian Ministry for Nuclear Affairs announced on 8th December 1998 that a subcritical nuclear test had been performed in the Arctic Seas, and that plans existed for other tests scheduled for later this month. The Japan P.E.N. Club cannot be but indignant and disappointed to learn that Russia is performing nuclear experiments with a view to further develop new nuclear weaponry. In addition to the above, the American authorities have announced that they intend to perform new subcritical nuclear tests at their Nevada nuclear testing sites to respond to the experiments conducted by Russia. It seems that the American nuclear tests may be conducted anytime now. We are speechless in front of such an attitude of the United States of America.

We issued statements of protest at the time of the under-ground nuclear tests performed by India and Pakistan last May, and we issued strongly worded protests at the time of the American subcritical tests conducted by the United States of America last September. However, we deplore deeply that powerful countries such as Russia and the United States engage in an armament race through nuclear tests, even if those tests are subcritical ones. To argue that subcritical nuclear tests do not violate the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty is a far-fetched argument, and we cannot help feeling threatened by the fact that this sort of dialectic could eventually lead to a proliferation of nuclear weapons.

It is with the strongest determination that we request President Yeltsin and the Russian Govenment, and President Clinton and the American Government not to allow any further nuclear tests, whatever be the reasons therefor.

December 15th, 1998