NUCLEAR TEST
The People's Republic of China reported the second successful test of a nuclear weapon on May 14. The event was regretted by all who are opposed to radioactive contamination of the atmosphere but the repercussions were not so great as at the time of the first test. China's proposal for a joint agreement among all nations to ban nuclear arms altogether and to dismantle the existing stockpiles has had time to have effect. More important, the U.S. aggression .in north Vietnam and the rising talk among White House circles about making a "first strike" against China have underlined the imperative need for China to strengthen all her military defenses as rapidly as possible and on a level to better deter the American warmongers,
The swiftness with which China has succeeded in carrying forward her nuclear program has staggered the Western powers. It is a most striking demonstration of the enormous productive capacity of planned economy.
Capitalist France, which is developing its own "striking force, paid particular attention to the success of the test. French nuclear experts, carefully analyzing all the available information, confessed amazement at the ability of China, without an advanced technological base, to solve the enormous problems associated with the production of the necessary nuclear materials.
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COLOGNE