FRANCES NUCLEAR DILEMMAS

Ignoring worldwide protests, France conducted the first of several sch eduled nuclear tests in September. The controversy has overshadowed Fr ance's more important nuclear challenges: maintaining a strong deterre nt under a test ban, moving ahead with its Proposals for ''Europeaniza tion'' of that-deterrent, and developing a consensus on how nuclear th reats should be used in response to those who would brandish other wea pons of mass destruction.