Nuclear Ban

Placed on fourth page of the Nov. 29 edition of The Times was a momentous event that seemed to go unnoticed. Brazil and Argentina unilaterally negotiated a mutual ban on the production and testing of nuclear weapons. This is an achievement which should warrant the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the leaders of each country.

Brazil and Argentina have taken a major step in stemming the tide of nuclear proliferation. It is now time for the United Sates to demonstrate leadership. Next month 41 nations will convene a United Nations conference to review progress toward the banning of all nuclear testing. The failure of Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States to accede to such a ban will likely unravel the limited international consensus that presently exists against wholesale nuclear proliferation.

The Soviet Union has announced its support for such a ban. It is time for the United States to join this effort. Failure to do so would render vacuously shallow and ironic our call to expunge the Iraqi nuclear threat at the cost of tens of thousands of American lives.

ROBERT C. WESLEY JR., MD, Delegate for the Pacific Region Physicians for Social Responsibility, Irvine