Evening star., 1946-04-13
Senate Split Widens
On Holding Bomb Test
| Despite Truman Plea
BY the Assoeioisd Press

The Senate split wide open to-
day over the question of holding
or cancelling-the Bikini atom
bomb tests despite President
Truman's statement that the ex-
periments are of "vital impor-
tance" to national defense.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois, leading a fight for abandon
ment Of the tests, told reporters he
fears that if the bombs explode on
schedule the world may obtain some
valuable information it otherwise
would not get on American military
power.
The Illinois Senator indicated he
believed it would be better for all
concerned If the extent of the dam
age that can be inflicted by atomic
bombs on naval vessels remains an
unsettled question until the world
gets farther along the road to peace.
Truman Statement Cited.
The renewed discussion on the
wisdom of the forthcoming mid-Pa-
cific tests was touched off by Mr..
Trumans announcement yesterday
that the revised summer target dates
for the experiment would be met.
They originally were set for May IS,
but postponed by the President so
that more members of Congress
might attend.
Senator Lucas contended that re-
gardless of whether the test is a
success or a fizzle," important infor-
nation on the bombs potentialities
was bound to be revealed.
But Senator Hickenlooper, Repub-
lican. of Iowa, member of the
Senate Atomic Energy Committee,
told newsmen it was just as logical
to suggest battleships be added to
the fleet without shakedown cruises
as to propose that the atomic bomb
not be tested at sea.
| Mcmahon Favors Tests.
Chairman Mcmahon Of the Atom
ic Committee said he thinks the
tests should go ahead as scheduled
and Chairman Connally of the Sem
ate Foreign Relations Committee
agreed. There were indications,
however, that Senator Vandenberg,
Republican, Of Michigan, a member
of both groups, is not convinced
that this is the wisest course. The
Michigan Senator refused public
comment.
Senator Fulbright, Democrat, Of
Arkansas reported he is worried
about the large scale nature Of the
tests, the first Of which is now
scheduled to be held about July l.
Il don't see why this test can't
be made with fewer Ships" he said.
That question will come before
the Senate Naval Affairs Committee
next week when Vice Admiral w. H.
P. Blandy, commander of the Nays
task force for the test, testiies on
revised plans. Admiral Blandy has
announced that only IT ships will
be placed in the target area, instead
Of the more than 100 previously con-
templated. The remainder of the
vessels will be held in reserve for the
second experiment.
Cancellation to Be Sought.
Because of this change in plans,
Chairman Walsh asked and re-
ceived Senate permission yesterday
to return to the Naval Affairs Com
mittee legislation previously passed
by the House to authorize use of
vessels in the test.
| Senators Lucas and Huffman,
Democrat, Of Ohio are prepared to
offer their resolution to cancel the
1946 tests as a substitute for this
measure if it again clears Senator
Walsh's committee and comes to
the Senate floor.
But Senator Hart, Republican, Of
Connecticut who was commander in
chief of the Asiatic Fleet at the out
break of the war with Japan, told
his colleagues that the Navy can't
plan for the future until it knows
the results of the tests.