Protest letter against the US subcritical nuclear test (September 19, 1997)

September 19, 1997

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The President
U.S.A

His Excellency Mr.Rust M. Deming
Charge of Affairs at Interim of
U.S. Embassy in Japan

Letter of Protest

An immediate total ban on sub-critical nuclear weapons test was resolved as the general consensus of the 117 cities from 33 countries who participated in the 4th World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-City Solidarity held last month. This demonstrates that voices in the international community are becoming increasingly vociferous in appealing for a halt to sub-critical nuclear weapons tests. Given this situation, I protest, as a representative of the citizens of Hiroshima, the willful conducting by your country of a second round of sub-critical nuclear tests.

The United States of America has signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), consented to the opening of negotiations toward the Strategic Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty (START III) , and is striving toward nuclear disarmament. Nevertheless, these actions notwithstanding, the attitude of your country, in its adherence to testing for the purpose of maintaining nuclear weapons, could very well provoke a hostile reaction from India, further endanger the effectuation of the CTBT, and cause the NPT system to collapse.

I urge in the strongest possible terms that the United States acknowledge with due sincerity the wishes of the international community which is striving for a world free from nuclear weapons, and call an immediate halt to sub-critical nuclear weapons testing. Moreover, the United States should take positive steps towards the earliest possible effectuation of the CTBT and the opening of negotiations for the Convention Banning the Production of Fissile Material for Nuclear Weapons (Cut off ) Treaty, in response to the July 1996 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice stating that "There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament."

Takashi Hiraoka
Mayor
Hiroshima City