Chemical Weapons Ban Treaty Draws Ire of Sen. Helms

Sen. Jesse Helms vowed Saturday that a proposed treaty to ban chemical weapons worldwide will never leave his Senate Foreign Relations Committee unless supporters give him the changes he wants in it.

Helms, the committee’s chairman, told a gathering of conservatives that as it is now written, the treaty will give Americans a false sense of security and could increase the risk that terrorists’ use of nerve gas will be more widespread.

“This treaty will do absolutely nothing to reduce the dangers of poison gas,” the North Carolina Republican said. “The Russians are actively working to create a new generation of chemical agents that are not even covered by the treaty.”

Like the United States, Russia has not ratified the 1993 treaty. President Boris N. Yeltsin is running into difficulties from his legislators similar to President Clinton’s problems with Helms-led opponents.

The Federation of American Scientists urged ratification in a letter sent Friday to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.). “The treaty denies us no option we would otherwise wish to exercise, for the United States has already renounced chemical weapons and is in the process of destroying them,” the letter said.

Speaking to about 250 people at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Helms said the treaty would allow rogue nations among its signatories greater access to information in the United States.

Generally, countries American politicians refer to as rogue states, such as Libya, Syria, North Korea and Iraq, have not signed the treaty.

The treaty marks an effort to ban the manufacture of nerve gas and destroy existing arsenals. More than 160 nations have signed, and about 70 have completed the ratification process.

The Bush administration signed the treaty in 1993. It takes effect April 29 even without U.S. ratification. Clinton wants the Senate to ratify by then to ensure the U.S. a leading role in establishing the guidelines that implement it.