"The world wouldn't know about these tests if the frigate wasn't there and if we depended on the U.S. and Soviet Union for reports," he said.

Kirk said he is still soliciting American support in protesting the nuclear testing, but he admitted some discouragement. "How they [Americans] respond to this is their business," he said. "But I have tried to remind all the democratic countries who were in World War II of an agreement that no country would brush aside smaller countries by rule of force."

He noted that Hawaii, America's 50th State, is susceptible to radioactive fallout--as are other Pacific island groups.

New Zealand scientists have already detected a light increase in radioactive fallout in the Cook Islands and in New Zealand since last week's test, Kirk said.

"The French are notorious for miscalculating the weather," he said. After the September 1966 test, winds blew nuclear debris over the Fiji Islands. Some debris hit New Zealand as well, he said.

"There is no such thing as an acceptable level of nuclear radioactivity," Kirk said. "The tests have to be proven safe before they can be accepted."

"Everyone's talking about nuclear defense," he said. "But because of stock-piling, we are advancing to a situation of mass suicide."

Kirk said, "We will do everything we can to bring about abandonment of these weapons. We'd fight any country testing its nuclear weapons in the area."

Kirk left Honolulu to San Francisco Monday en route to Ottawa, Canada for a meeting with the leaders of British Commonwealth governments next week