Testing May Increase (Press, 17 July 1974)

On 17 July 1974, a report from Washington highlighted the Pentagon's confidence in its ability to test new nuclear weapons ahead of a deadline imposed by a recently signed treaty with the Soviet Union. The treaty, which prohibits all underground nuclear explosions exceeding 150 kilotons (equivalent to 150,000 tons of TNT), will take effect on 31 March 1976. The United States is reportedly planning to expedite its testing schedule in the remaining 20 months of unrestricted underground testing. The Atomic Energy Commission is said to have requested an additional $89 million to support enhanced nuclear testing activities. This confidence aligns with the Pentagon’s ongoing projects to develop significant new military capabilities, including a 400-kiloton multiple warhead for the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This new warhead would be approximately twice as powerful as the current versions being employed. Despite the advancements, some Pentagon officials expressed concern that the treaty might hinder the US's ability to match the capabilities of new Soviet multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which are reported to possess explosive yields between one million and two million tons of TNT. Nevertheless, experts emphasise that the treaty does not restrict necessary research to enhance the explosive yield from nuclear materials and improve missile accuracy. Such advancements could lead to lighter warheads that, while powerful, would allow for increased efficiency and potentially more accurate strikes using existing missile technology. Consequently, the US hopes to utilise innovations in nuclear weapons design to maintain strategic parity with the Soviet Union even within the constraints set by the treaty. In a related note, a Social Credit Party spokesperson in New Zealand indicated that after the 1975 elections, members of Parliament from the party would have a free vote regarding homosexual law reform. This decision underscores the belief that such vital societal issues should transcend the confines of political dogma and allow for individual parliamentary discretion.

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