61.   However, French President Jacques Chirac announced in June that France would resume nuclear tests.

62.   In Moscow a foreign affairs ministry spokesman said the explanations given by French President Jacques Chirac for resuming the tests ran counter to common sense.

63.   In particular non-nuclear countries that are on the point of developing nuclear capacity would be reluctant to sign if one of the major powers indicated it was resuming tests.

64.   In Paris Tuesday it was revealed a panel of military experts had recommended France resumes its tests.

65.   A high-level White House meeting was scheduled for next week to decide whether to resume the tests, the newspaper said.

66.   A spokesman for Prime Minister Paul Keating said the decision had been taken despite letters from the premier urging that tests not be resumed.

67.   Anti-French feeling has risen in Japan since France decided to resume nuclear tests in the Pacific, according to an opinion poll published Tuesday by Jiji Press agency.

68.   But the Asahi Shimbun reported Sunday the government planned to continue loans to China even if the tests are resumed.

69.   Chile proposed Monday a conference of environment ministers from Latin American Pacific rim countries to try to stop France from resuming nuclear tests in the South Pacific.

70.   Chirac announced in June that France would resume nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific in September, triggering a political storm across the Asia-Pacific.