GERMANY will build its nuclear research reactor at Munich's technical university even if it has to risk brickbats from the rest Of the world community. The us is particularly perturbed about this obstinacy: it fears that the new reactor, which will use highly enriched, capons-grade uranium, will encourage nuclear proliferation.

The us has extended an offer to the reactor to enable it to use less enriched uranium. If this project "oes into operation, it will seriously discredit us efforts since 1978 - partly inanced by Germany itself - to con expert existing uranium research reactors introducing highly enriched uranium into reactors producing the less enriched variety in an attempt to contain proliferation.