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CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY
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USSR RESUMES NUCLEAR TEST ACTIVITY AT NOVAYA ZEMLYA
US Atomic EnergySystem haa reported that two explosions occurred in the USSR05 hours Zebra5 EOT) oneptember, both in theof Hovaya Zemlya. Signals
from both explosions have been reported by acoustic, seismic, and electromagneticreliminary estimate of tho yield of the first shot is in tbe rangeilo-tons, with the most probable
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value being. For the second shot, the range Is estimated, with the most probable value^heintt^Lo^on^
This is the third occasion8 on which the Soviet Onion has conducted two testsingle day. Onebruary two tests were madehree-hour period in the Novaya Zemlya area, and onest at Novaya Zemlya andat the Semlpalatinsk proving grounds occurred within an hour.
Tbe events ofeptember bring tbe total number oftests in the USSRwelve of which have been held in the Novaya Zemlya area, t Semlpalatinsk, and three at other locations.
Tbe resumption of testsarefully prepared propaganda campaign designed to place the blame for such Soviet action on continuedand British testing. ctober, the day after its resumption of tests, Moscow proposed in notes to the United States and Britain that tbectober Geneva talks on an agreementessation of nuclear tests be convened at tho foreign ministers' level.
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while tbe notes avoid any threatoycott if this proposal is not accepted, the Soviet leaders probably anticipateejection would have the effect of strengthening their charges'that the United States and Britain are seeking toan agreement and would provide further Justification for the USSR's currentof tests. The notes repeat Khrushchev's previous insistence that the purpose of the talks is to conclude an agreement on the "permanent" cessation of tests, suggesting that thedelegation will seek to make this the key issue in the negotiations.
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On the same day the USSR resumed testing, Sovietcited recent tests in Nevada as further proof that the United States' announcement of its intention to suspend tests was "another propaganda trick designed to deceive public opinion."
It Is expected the soviet Union will conduct tests at a rapid pace, completing the present phase of testing at least by the start of the Geneva talks. Moscow then would be free to accept thene-year temporary suspension if the Sovietduring the course of the talks calculated that such agreement were^tp the USSR's advantage^!
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