Rising Stockpiles

For most Americans, the terror of nuclear weapons has grown domesticated -- even if the real threat remains. Psychologically, at least, the instruments of doomsday have been around for so long that they are simply part of the century's familiar, horrific landscape. Last week, in an unprecedented joint effort, the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. and its Soviet counterpart simultaneously issued reports agreeing on the need to restrict the spread of nuclear weapons and atomic stockpiles.

The U.S. report pointed out that it is not only the superpowers that pose a threat. Included in the nations that have not yet signed the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are India and Israel. The U.S. estimated that India has on hand 95 kilograms of "unsafeguarded plutonium" -- meaning plutonium produced without international inspection. Israel, said the report, has 40 kilograms. Only five to ten kilograms are sufficient to make a nuclear weapon that could destroy a medium-sized city.

Thus, among smaller nations, a dangerous new arms race becomes possible.

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