WEATHER MODIFICATION HEARINGS 1974 Hearings before the Subcommittee

Weather Modification: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Oceans and International Environment of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate

Senator Pell. This morning the Subcommittee on Oceans and International Environment is meeting to hear testimony concerning the need for an international agreement prohibiting the use of environmental modification and geophysical modification as weapons of war. It is regrettable that this hearing must be held. It would not have been necessary if the administration had promptly responded to S. Res. 71, a resolution overwhelmingly adopted on July 11, 1973, as the result of a roll call vote in the Senate. Six months later, there has not been the slightest indication that the administration is acting to meet a clearly expressed request of the Senate that.the U.S. Government seek the agreement of other governments to a treaty prohibiting the use of any environmental or geophysical modification as a weapon of war. I hope this hearing will shed light on the reasons-why no such action has been taken. I am sure it will reveal reasons why this action should be taken' without delay .. As I note below, I am afraid much of the responsibility for no forward movement rests at ·the door of the Defense Department.