Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-02-05


strikes again, finding us UMPIRE.
pared. we will surely perish.
These and kindred statements
were made by a distinguished group
Of scientists the other day before
the House Committee on Postwar
Military Policy in support of the
proposal to establish a research
board for national security" The
idea behind this is to create a peace.
time research group which will make
always available for the armed
services a reservoir of the foremost
scientific brains and experience. II
will do in peacetime the kind Of
thing the ONCE of Scientific Re-
search and Development has done
during this war-done so quietly
that its very existence has hardly
been known, though its contribu-
tions to the war effort have beer
great.
Board to be Permanent.
But the OSRD is an emergency
outfit which concentrates on the
short range" The new board is
to be permanent and equipped for
the long range" Presentation OF
the proposal to Congress follows
many months of conversations and
conferences. The idea was con-
ceived in the early part Of 1913
It's earliest and principal promoters
include the MesSrs. M. A. Tuve, D
Luke Hopkins, Charles S. Garland
Capt. S. r. Shumaker, U. S. NJ, and
others connected with the OSRD
1t has been approved by every Army
and Navy authority and by many
leading industrialists and scientists.
1t seems agreed that 1t is of vital
importance that after this war we
begin to prepare intelligently for the
type of war which may confront
us with great suddenness some time
in the future. The new German
flying and rocket bombs and the
many new electronic devices are
obviously merely the forerunners
Of terrible weapons Of destruction
which may possess overwhelming
powers with ability to strike with
out warning. The necessity for thi.
loving Nation to keep abreast
OF all such developments and to
have sufficient time to develop
methods of protection or retaliation
seems too clear to argue Surely, no
one will dispute the necessity of our
having the fullest possible knowl-
edge Of such inventions and de.
velopments But knowledge is not
enough. We have got to know the
answers, too.
There is no other means of OBJ
tanning this protection but through
the creation of a continuing board
such as proposed, and the job OF
the committee, of whom Representa-
tive Woodrum of Virginia is chair
man, to evolve a bill along the lines
suggested is a vital one Even the
strongest believers in the efficacy
of international cooperation tt
avert war do not minimize the
necessity for this kind of prepared
ness. The only differences are as
to detail; there are none as to the
desirability Of the board.
Status in Question.
For example, while it is agreed
that the proposed board should
function comparatively with the
Army and Navy, both of which will
be fully represented as trustees
there is some difference as to thu
level on which the board should bt
tied into the armed services. Ais,
there is difference on the question
Of how it should be financed and tt
whom it should be responsible. Tn,
best thought seems to be that unless
the present joint chiefs of staff rec.
ognize this new activity on their OWL
level, the interest of the most quail
fed scientists and civilians nigh
not be enlisted-or, If enlisted, theil
interest might not be so keen. And i
Is OF the first essential that the very
best scientists and industriaist.
should be tremendously interested
The basic question, however, i.
whether the organization shall be ar
independent body responsible tc
Congress and the President or shall
be subordinated to the Army and
Navy. Those who have given most
thought to the proposals feel very
strongly that If the organization is
to be OF real vitality and truly effec-
tive 1t should be established by
Congress and not by executive order
II 1t is to have the full responsibility
1t should have, 1t must not be de.
pendent upon Army and Navy funds
but should be financed by direct
congressional appropriations.
One reason is that If the funds
have to come from the armed serv-
ices in peacetimes, competition will
arise OF such strength that the re.
search budget would be cut in favor
OF maintaining "the fleet in being,
or for some other reason. Obviously
too, the test period for continuou.
research will come some 10 year
49,