The Challenge of the Chinese Bomb-I

I WOULD like to congratulate the Council on the initiative it has taken in organising a series of discussions on The Challenge of the Chinese Bomb. I welcome the phrase which you have used—challenge rather than a threat. The Chinese explosion of a bomb is undoubtedly a threat, but it is also a challenge. It is a challenge to India, both as a national State and as a neighbour of China with its special interests and concerns. It is also a challenge to India as a responsible and peaceful member of the world community. The challenge to India is to find some way which will enable her not only to safeguard her national interests, but also larger interests of the world as a whole. Let me first deal with this larger aspect. As you all know, the explosion of the Chinese bomb has enlarged the threat of proliferation of nuclear weapons. Throughout the world this is recognised as one of the greatest dangers which mankind is facing. Already, the existing stocks of nuclear weapons in the hands of the nuclear Powers are large enough to destroy humanity. If a war were to start by accident or miscalculation the result would be the end of the world as we know it today. So the first problem is how to reduce .and eliminate existing stocks. And it is because both sides recognise the danger that they have decided to find some way of reaching an agreement on arms control and disarmament. There is no alternative to general and complete disarmament in the nuclear age.* That is accepted by everyone. The first step, however, is for the major Powers to reach some agreement on the reduction of their own stocks. If they are not prepared to reduce their stocks how can they expect others to forego their ambition to become nuclear Powers ? India has no such ambition, but there are many other countries which have nuclear ambitions. France and China have made it clear that they will not accept the monopoly of the existing nuclear Powers. We may disagree with their