THE FRENCH NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM

SECRET 46 (b)(1) [b][3] CURRENT INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY 28 January 1960 * THE FRENCH NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM France's nuclear weapons program has a broad base in re- search going back to prewar days and in reactor construc- tion, but it lacked adequate government and public backing until the Suez crisis in 1956 gave it an impetus which De Gaulle's coming to power ac- celerated. Plans for large-scale nu-- clear production of electricity now may get less emphasis, both because of the growing...