NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AFTER THE COLD WAR:

Part 1: Archives of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1989-1994

Part 2: Archives of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1994-2000

Extracts from the Archives - Part 1

REEL ONE

CND National Council Meeting, 22nd / 23rd September 1990, Red Rose Club, London, N4
Bruce Kent in the Chair. Political Discussion: The Gulf Crisis

John Grounds, CND’s Information Officer, opened the discussion with a background briefing on the situation in the Gulf. He gave a brief chronology of the events since the August 2nd invasion and a summary of force levels in the region followed by a description of the scenarios envisaged for the coming weeks: international co-operation, economic sanctions and military options. He then described a number of wider issues raised by the Gulf crisis, including the threat of nuclear proliferation, the danger posed by the presence of nuclear weapons and reactors in the Gulf, chemical weapons production, the hypocrisy of the arms trade and the need for stricter controls, the role of the UN, the consequences of the Gulf crisis with regards to a peace dividend, the oil connection and the role of international law.

CND’s Political Response

Bruce Kent’s position was:

Negotiated settlement. No military action without UN approval.
Article 51 of the Charter does not allow independent military action once responsibility for managing a conflict has been vested in the UN Security Council.

Other points made:
Situation resulted from both sides pursuing oil interests
Military action has strengthened Saddam Hussein
Fighting most likely in cool months - November to April

China - A Briefing for CND International Forum, April 1992

Proliferation
China represents a major problem in respect of horizontal proliferation. Iran has acquired a neutron source reactor and electromagnetic isotope separators from China. Syria is in negotiations with China for the purchase of a reactor, while Algeria has already obtained one.

Human Rights
The present regime’s attitude to human rights is that human rights are ‘primarily the right to development’ and to the means of survival. The government denies that there are any political prisoners in China and says that human rights are an internal affair.

Prioritisation Rating
All in all China is ranked in World Military and Social Expenditures (1991) as No 1 (ie worst) out of 142 countries rated in 1987 in terms of its military expenditure compared to its peoples average earnings. It was 112th and 104th respectively in terms of what it spent per person on education and health. China is currently the world’s fastest growing economy.

Declan McHugh, CND Information Officer, March 1992.

Campaigning on Trident - Information Officer’s comments.

Scotland
I believe mobilisation of latent nuclear discontent in Scotland could be a very powerful lever to get rid of Trident - perhaps the most powerful at this point, in my opinion. Over 70% of Scottish people are against Trident.

Costs
The £3 million a day, £2,000 a minute statistic is a good one, particularly in an election campaign when people are very money- conscious, and will be updated at the end of April when Greenpeace are going to hold a press conference to unveil new and much higher estimates of the total cost of Trident over its lifetime.

International dimension
Heartening solidarity actions have been taking place in the US around the British Trident. More links should be forged and people should be more aware of the anti-Trident Network; Trident is a transatlantic weapon.

Declan McHugh, March 20 1992

General Secretary’s Report, July Council 1992

What a difference a year can make. At July Council 1991 CND debated whether to cut £100,000 or £125,000. Both proved to be insufficient. Further packages went before September Executive and September & January’s Council meetings. A combination of fixed costs reductions, strict financial monitoring and the Emergency Appeal enabled CND to survive, not without considerable pain to the organisation, but nevertheless, to survive. As the Treasurer will report, we have moved from a March 1991 deficit of over £30,000 to a March 1992 surplus in excess of £80,000 - a turn around of £110,000 in one year.

REEL TWO

Discussion Paper on Election Strategy - CND Executive, February 1992

Pre-election and during the campaign
Groups / individual campaigners who have knowledge of candidate’s view should be asked to inform the office to help us keep up to date. Despite the diminished information section, candidates can be directed to already existing material and briefings on Trident, the peace dividend (vital during the on-going debate on taxation and economic policy) and conversion. We should make an effort to be present at the Spring series of TU conferences to communicate our views on peace dividend/conversion.

After the election
At council it was agreed that the main discussion should focus on the development of a plan for our response to the numerous post election scenarios which could arise …

A Tory win. If a Conservative Government is elected this will create a constitutional crisis in Scotland. There will be a strong movement for independence and the imposition of Trident bases on an unwilling population will be a key issue. We must be prepared to work with these forces and assist them in ensuring that a strong campaign is waged. Linking actions, eg a small march to Faslane should be considered in these circumstances. We should consult the Baltic states peace movements. The peace dividend issue would highlight the impoverishment of small nations by Tory militarism.

Autumn Campaign 1992 - Notes for the Executive from the Regional Workers / Campaigns Department meeting on 9 June 1992

Discussion on the focus for the Autumn Campaign
Two possible topics were discussed - Nuclear Transport and Testing. (We are also currently working on a street campaigning leaflet on the basic case against nuclear weapons and two Trident leaflets are in circulation.)

Aims for a Campaign on Testing
For Britain to join the French and Russian moratorium on Testing.
To promote a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
To force the government to defend testing, possibly exploiting any differences between the
MoD and the Foreign Office.
To educate and mobilise public opinion.
To enthuse our activists and membership.
To recruit new members.

Organisational Objectives
To form a wide coalition of supporters on the issue of testing within parliament (aiming to include members of all opposition parties - preferably including party leaders, and a sprinkling of Tory MPs). Also to form a wide coalition of supporters including NGOs and celebrities. Ideally we would be looking for support from Greenpeace, FoE, and the possibility of a shop window campaign from the Body Shop

REEL THREE

CND Annual Report 1991

An extraordinary twelve months is drawing to a close. The Gulf War, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, civil war, nuclear proliferation and, above all else, the demise of the USSR: these are the hallmarks of the ‘New World Order’. The old world order persists, characterised by NATO’s longevity and qualitative nuclear escalation, the deepening third world debt, the starvation of millions and massive environmental damage. Our hopes for a world order based on the principles of global security and the peaceful resolution of conflict have been set back. The Bush administration has used devastating force as a tool of diplomacy. Whatever else may be said about the present juncture, one thing is clear: the world is not a safer place.

The demise of the USSR has ended, at least for the time being, rivalry and conflict between the differing socio-economic systems of East and West. The statements of the Russian, Ukranian and Kazhakstan Republics regarding nuclear testing and disarmament are exciting developments, but the rise of the new right in eastern Europe and Russia threatens fearful consequences. The Balkan region is dangerously unstable. Germany and Japan are experiencing a kind of creeping militarism. The WEU is contemplating a nuclear capability, while British and NATO escalation continues with the launch of the first Trident boat schedule for January 31st, 1992 and proposals to deploy 450 TASMs in Europe.

Report of International Peace Bureau Conference / Assembly. 13-15 September, Toronto.

The 1991 IPB conference was the first to be held in North America. 200 plus people took part, representing 27 countries … The theme of the conference was ‘Reconciliation and Resistance’ - Building World Community’ … It was clear that the organising group - ACT for Disarmament - were making links between all the issues of peace, development, environment, justice and human rights …

My overall impression of the conference was that there was a much stronger link in the thinking and practice of the Canadian activists between social justice and peace than in a similar group of UK activists. Their movement had been through a similar pattern of growth and decline as we have. Their response to this has been to broaden their agenda. On such short a contact it is difficult to judge whether this has helped to maintain the relevance of the peace movement to Canadian society but it certainly seemed to be a younger more vibrant group of people than one would find at a similar meeting in the UK …

Janet Bloomfield. 12.11.91

Planning Meeting for Les Voiles de la Paix, Brighton. May 3rd 1992

There was a brief discussion to set the joint Franco-British action in a political framework, introduced by Eileen and Duncan for the British and Colette and Marie Claire for the French.

Britain The rioting and disaffection in Los Angeles, stemming from poverty and deprivation, originated in part by the crippling defence budget of the USA. The Third World knows only too well the burden of arms spending; yet the United Nations Conference on the Environment & Development in Brazil in June has not included disarmament on the Agenda …

France In France restructuring of the army is taking place into a streamlined force for rapid deployment of space weapons. The moratorium on testing is to be welcomed (due partly to public opinion) but must be extended indefinitely with France pushing other nuclear powers especially the USA, into similar action. Reasons for the French moratorium include: the present fragility of the Muroroa atoll, the end of present test programmes and the deep anxiety in political circles about nuclear proliferation.

REEL FOUR

CND Press Release, 1st November 1991
CND’s citizens charter to John Major: Stop the Nuclear Test

On Tuesday 5th November at 2pm, a CND led delegation will present a Citizens Charter to John Major at 10 Downing Street, demanding that Britain’s underground nuclear test be cancelled. Codenamed ‘Bristol’, it is due to take place in the next few days on the lands of the Western Shoshone nation in Nevada, USA, despite a personal plea from Chief Raymond Yowell of the Western Shoshone National Council.

Delegates presenting the Charter include: *CND Vice President Air Commodore Alastaire Mackie, *Ex-Services CND Cdr Robert Green RN (ret), *Bristol Councillor Robin Moss, *Green Party Spokesperson Mallen Baker and *Zoe Lightfoot, part Chippewa Native American. Also invited are Dawn Primarolo MP, Survival International, Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons and British Test Veterans.

The Citizens Charter, entitled, ‘Not in our name’, has been set up by Bristol CND to reflect the fact that the planned nuclear test has been code-named ‘Bristol’. The Charter was launched today by Bristol councillors who passed a motion at Council condemning the test.

CND Defence Briefing
Polaris, Trident and Soviet ABM Defences

There are now discussions about Russia and the US sharing information on GPALS - Global Protection Against Limited Strikes. GPALS in itself would not necessarily invalidate the ABM Treaty, but if the GPALS plan comes to incorporate space weaponry (as the US would like but Russia is against) then the ABM Treaty may collapse or be negated. Britain has been a staunch supporter of the ABM Treaty and was wary of the US Star War Plans for this reason. The irony is that Britain has proceeded with a Trident system that is vastly destructive but has officially admitted that the state that Trident was conceived to face (the USSR) is now a friend

REEL 5

Sanity, May 1990. Low-flying complaint

I’ve just received from CND the bumph about the latest campaign about low-flying jets. I’ve become increasingly concerned about CND’s stance on such things. I joined CND nearly 10 years ago because I am against nuclear weapons. I reckon the only feasible way we’ll ever get rid of the so-called nuclear deterrent is by having a reasonable non-nuclear defence. That’s why I disagree with the anti-Tornado and anti-RAF training campaigns. I know Tornados can carry nuclear weapons, but that’s not their only function. To answer the points in the low-flying letter:

The Cold War is over. I hope so, with Soviet tanks trundling through the streets in Vilnius, I am not prepared to accept that peace has finally broken out;

They cost £££s. Yes - so do Trident and cruise, and if we have to spend money on arms, I know which I’d rather have. (OK - I’d rather have none, but that won’t work);

… I want to keep on supporting CND, to get rid of nuclear weapons. I think we are more likely to win the argument if we concentrate on that, than if we demonstrate naïveté and ignorance by trying to get rid of the lot. That day might well come - but let’s concentrate on showing Mrs Thatcher that we can do without nuclear weapons first, then work on getting rid of the rest.

Rev Anthony E Buglass BA, Amble, Northumberland

Sanity, January 1989. Will there be another rainbow?

David Hart on some ominous shifts in the natural world, as viewed by contemporary poets.

And yet the February lambs come
Tottering out into the sunlight like
Treblinka survivors.

Through the Church of England jets still
Pinnacle and buttress overhead
And their soloist,

The hawk,
maintains its altitude
Above abandoned farms.

Harry Fainlight

REEL SIX

Campaign, March 1991.
Not in my name. International Women’s Day, 8 March 1991

Throughout the present crisis, a pronounced gender gap has emerged around the issue of support for Britain’s role in the Gulf. Women, as a group, have been consistently more opposed to the war than men, indeed, most other interest groups. Popular and enduring conceptions of war have tended to reduce women to the status of either ‘innocent victims’ or angels in the home. Such depictions work to disempower women, and to silence their opposition. Women have actively rejected these characteristics, identifying the ways in which women are implicated in war as participants in a militarist economy and political culture.

To a large degree, women have written the history of the peace movement over the last decade. During the Gulf crisis, they have been visible, organised and imaginative in their response. The women’s vigil outside the Foreign Office has now been running since 11 January, having resumed following the mortar attack on Downing Street …

Chernobyl Children’s Project. An update and heartfelt thanks.

CND groups have been fundraising with a will and I’ve been regularly sending cheques to Ireland … Meanwhile Adi Roche, of Irish CND and Director of the Project … has written

‘...to thank all the British CND supporters for the brilliant support you have given over the past few months. There is a lovely sense of solidarity coming across the Irish Sea and we have been overwhelmed with the response.

The majority of this years 250 children have now returned to Belarus. Due to the terrific response we have acquired enough funds to purchase and renovate a complete fleet of ambulances which will be driven out to various adopted hospitals at the end of August by a volunteer group of firemen and ambulance drivers from Waterford.

In the name of the children I say Thank You to all of you for finding it in your hearts to show compassion, love and care. In Peace.’

Lionel Trippett

REEL SEVEN

Hornsey CND. May 1994. Hornsey CND goes to Harlesden …

On Saturday 23rd April 3 members of Hornsey CND, Pat Arrowsmith, Lorraine Humphries and David Polden bearing the Hornsey CND banner, took part in a demonstration organised by London Region CND against the nuclear waste trains that go through London. This took place in Harlesden High Street, very near Willesden Junction Station which is used by nuclear waste trains from Sizewell, Bradwell and Dungeness nuclear power stations and from nuclear power stations abroad via Dover. With the opening of the new THORP re-processing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, the amount of waste coming from abroad is set to increase considerably.

About 20 people took part in the action, some wearing imitation radiation-suits. They gave out about 2000 leaflets, collected signatures on a petition calling for a halt to the trains and held up placards and banners. A loud-hailer was used to warn people about the trains and the ‘Fallout Marching Band’ played. About £23 was given in donations and many of the passing shoppers expressed great concern about the dangers posed by the trains when it was pointed out that they continuously give off radiation and that if the waste containers were to be broken in an accident a mini-Chernobyl could result.

Sydenham and Forest Hill CND. February / March 1993. Aldermaston and Burghfield

It is hard to believe that scientist and workers are doing their evil work there, developing, ‘improving’ and manufacturing and servicing their ghastly nuclear weaponry at the behest of our ‘democratically’ elected government.

United Nations Secretary General Boutros-Ghali has joined CND in calling for intensified efforts to achieve a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Without the power to test these weapons these workers would have nothing to do except specialising in their dismantling and destruction. If that caused job losses I couldn’t care a tinker’s cuss. (Could you imagine any friends of yours working there?)

In the light of allegations in a new report from Greenpeace which details the appalling safety record at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment I wonder there are any workers brave enough to work there. However, CND Council has just decided to cancel proposals for a commemorative march from Aldermaston to Burghfield. A pity, I was looking forward to it.

REEL EIGHT

Merseyside CND. June 1993. East Timor

Timor… Ever heard of it?... No… You will… Its situated between the Pacific and the Indian oceans… Just north of Australia… This island has two major things in its favour. Oil and Location.

A recent study of its petroleum found that the quality - 20% is nearly as good as the petroleum in Kuwait which is 25% - the beauty of Timor being there are less people in Timor than Kuwait - In fact since its occupation in 1975 one third of its population has been murdered by Indonesia helped by Britain, France, Germany and the USA of course…

Why else - other than for its oil?... (That’s where the location comes in) The Timor Sea which joins the two great oceans is one of the deepest seas in the world - which is handy if you want to hide submarines in there. Its also handy for access… In a speech in Manchester recently a young person from Timor was explaining how Indonesia is swamping Timor with immigrants so that the Timorese will become non-existent - genocide? Certainly it is. Amazing its not been in our newspapers - that’s because Britian is selling Indonesia the Hawk aircraft from our own British Aerospace - ‘Jobs for the Boys’. Our excuse being… We are selling the Hawk as a training aircraft… Nonsense… This aircraft is nuclear capable… Read on ...

Cambridge CND. September 1993. The Bombing of Baghdad.

In the current iconography of battle, NATO military chiefs are seen as Generals, whereas the leaders of troops involved in the vast array of factional fighting currently being indulged in have been dubbed Warlords. There is an implicit depreciation of the latter but, in the illegal bombing of Baghdad, Bill Clinton has shown that, in reality, there is no distinction between them. They are all Warlords and all to be despised for that reason …

Clinton’s real motivations were, of course, transparent. A couple of weeks ago, he was an unpopular leader who was seen as indecisive and vacillating. Now, we see an upfront, popular President who has, to his eternal discredit, followed the time-worn paths of failing politicians - when things go badly at home, take peoples’ minds off it by spilling some blood abroad.

In this country, John Major’s response was as craven as it was predictable, but the Labour Party awoke momentarily from its complacent slumbers to condemn the action as being without legal basis. One could harldy restrain the fleeting how that they might, while their eyes remained open, rediscover the word ‘socialism’, but the old chin slumped back on the chest and only muted snoring could be heard.

Tony Benn has pointed out that Clinton’s action was typical of successive American Presidents who have engaged in similar attacks of violence in pursuit of their own imperial interests. He cited attacks on Cuba, Grenada, Panama, Tripoli and, of course, the Desert Storm operation in Iraq.

Any hopes that Bill Clinton might have proved a more humane and honourable leader than George Bush have been wiped away by this cowardly and brutal action. The new boss is regrettably, but predictably, the same as the old boss, and the world is a poorer place for it.

REEL NINE

Yorkshire and Humberside CND. 1993. 4th July, Saturday

Yorkshire and Humberside CND are celebrating American Independence Day by blowing the whistle on Menwith. You may not have heard of Menwith, but Menwith has probably heard of you. It is the most secret US base in Britain, concerned with tapping into international communications and massive expansions are underway, most likely to play a key part in in the unworkable ‘Star Wars’ project. Might we muster a minibus to the moors? NVDA and not. Contact your worker.

Bouquets

To the Colombian Embassy for their support of the World Court Project … To the French Government, (ignoring the suggestion that they hadn’t any more planned tests anyway) for a moratorium on nuclear tests until the end of the year, and an encouragement for others to do the same and to speed up the process of disarmament. Their embassy is at 58 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7JT, for anyone who cares to congratulate them.

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