Evening star., 1945-12-19
Morse Charges Plot
For 'CompIacency'
On Atomic Control

FORCES are at work IN the united
States today deliberately trying to
stupify and befuddle the public on
control of atomic energy and the
atomic bomb and to lure them into
feeling of false security, Senator
Morse, Republican, of Oregon said
yesterday.
II am not sure these unprincipled
demagogues are all out of public
service or out of uniform" the Sem
ator told a meeting of the National
Committee on Atomic Information
at the Hamilton Hotel. He predicted
that the "complacency campaign
would strike a responsive note with
the American public, which he de-
scribed as a great, wishful-think-
ing group of people"
Americans want to believe what
they want to believe" he said. 'They
will go to almost any length to avoid
believing an unhappy fact. Any
plausible naturalization of their
hopes is quickly grasped at"
No Motive Specified.
Senator Morse did not specify the
motive for the alleged attempt to
cloud public awareness of the need
for action to meet the problem OF
the atomic bomb on an information
al level. He charged, however, that
you can see in Congress indications
of a blind nationalism which will
lead us straight into another and
final war"
"One of the most outstanding do
nothing sessions in the history of
the Congress" now is drawing to a
close, he added. Enormous prob
lens are up for consideration, he
said, but it seems impossible to get
effective action from Congress.
Senator Morse stated that the
problem of the bomb should proper
ly be viewed as only one facet
though an exceedingly important
one, of the all-embracing problem
of international and social morality
The General Assembly of the United
Nations must develop into a genuine
international parliament for the
world, he said, and all nations. in
cluding the United States, must
agree to submit disputes to the
binding decision of World Court
Unless these things develop" the
Senator said. the year 1945 may
well be recorded in history as the
beginning of the end of American
civilization"
Mcmahon Charges Escapism."
In its morning session the COM
mittee, which formally voted itself
into existence during the afternoon
had heard Chairman Mcmahon OF
the Senate Committee on Atomic
Energy criticize the press and pub
lie for indulging in "escapism" with
regard to the problem of the con-
troll of the atom.
The group, in which more than
so national organizations are rep
resented, adopted a constitution
dedicating it to providing a
medium through which the member
organizations and the atomic scien-
lists and their colleagues can CO.
operate for the promotion of pub
lie understanding of the scientific
facts of atomic energy and Their
applications for society"
DR.. Ralph Mcdonald of the Ma
tional Education Association, who
had been chairman of a temporary
steering committee named on No
Vember l6 to draw up plans for the
organization of the present group
was elected chairman of the new
NCAI at yesterday meeting.
Other officers named were DR.
Helen Dwight Reid of the Amer
ican Association of University
Women, vice chairman; Mrs. Leslie
Falk, United Council of Church.
women, secretary, and Father Ed
ward A. Conway. Catholic Associa-
ton for International Peace, treas
urer,