The CTB Treaty and Nuclear Non-Proliferation: The Debate Continues

On March 18, the Senate continued its consideration of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) when the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services held a hearing on "The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Nuclear Non Proliferation." During the afternoon session, Arms Control Association President and Executive Director Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr. appeared before the subcommittee urging prompt Senate approval of the treaty, which President Clinton transmitted in September 1997. Appearing also was Kathleen C. Bailey, a senior fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an opponent of treaty ratification. Both Keeny and Bailey were asked to address five "reasons for ratification" offered by the White House Working Group which relate to nuclear non proliferation:

• The CTBT will constrain the development of more advanced nuclear weapons by the declared nuclear powers;
• The CTBT will strengthen the [nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] regime and the U.S. ability to lead the global non-proliferation effort;
• The CTBT will constrain "rogue" states' nuclear weapons development and other states' nuclear capabilities;
• The CTBT will improve America's ability to detect and deter nuclear explosive testing; and
• CTBT ratification by the United States and others will constrain non signatories from conducting nuclear tests.

What follows are edited versions of the oral statements of Keeny and Bailey. A full transcript of the hearing, including remarks by John Holum, acting under secretary of state and director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, can be found at: http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1998_h/index.html

Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., president and executive director of the Arms Control Association, formerly served as deputy director of the Arms Control and Disarmament agency (1977-1981) under President Jimmy Carter.
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Kathleen C. Bailey, a senior fellow at Lawrence Livermonre National Laboratory, served assistant director for nonproliferation at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (1987-1991) in the Bush administration.
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