Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-13
Wallace Sees Dancer
OF Fascism in Atom
Control by Military
BY the Associoied Press

The issue of national safet,
gave the armed forces the deci.
sion today in an important pre-.
liminary test on postwar contro
of atomic energy.
The decision was hit immediatel,
by Secretary of Commerce Wallace
who saw in it "the potentiality Of
delivering us into the hands Of mil.
itary fascism in this Nation"
However, Senator Vandenberg
Republican, of Michigan held that
military regulation is necessary
until stabilized international con.
troll is developed effectively to pro.
hlbit the use of atomic energy TO,
military purposes by anybody a,
any time"
The test developed when the spe-
cial Senate Atomic Committee voted
q to l, yesterday to incorporate into
pending legislation provision CIV
ing presidentially appointed mill
tary haison committee a right to
intervene before a civilian atomic
control commission of five.
Unfortunate Development.
Mr.. Wallace declared this was
a vote Ito place the control OF
atomic energy, in effect, in the
hands OF the military" He called
1t an exceedingly unfortunate de-
velopment."
The armed forces have taken the
position all along that postwar
atomic energy control should be
their responsibility because of the
Importance of atomic weapons to
the Nations defense. But numerous
scientists and others have argued
Tor complete civilian control to adj
vance research and alIay interna-
tional suspicion.
The decision in favor of the mill
tary was on a proposal to revise
the bill sponsored by Senator Nc
Mahon, Democrat, of Connecticut
which would intrust postwar atomic
development to strictly civilian con-
troll. Senator Mcmahon, chairman
OF the committee, cast the lone vote
against the proposal which would
give the military veto power in mat
tiers OF national security.
Vandenberg Sees Approval.
Senator Vandenberg, a member
OF the committee and author of the
proposal, told reporters the revision
would give military officials stop
look and listen power in behalf of
national security" and predicted
that the amended bill would get an
proval this week from the COM
mittee.
Senator Mcmahon expressed great
dissatisfaction with the committee
action. saying it would give the
military the opportunity of assert
ing itself on every atomic matter
it should care to-" He expressed
nope, at the same time, that "the
military will see its way to stand
ing aside for science where the ma
tional defense is not primarily in
volved."
Secretary Wallace made his COM
ments as he opened an atomic en-
ergy exhibit in the Commerce De-
partment Building and there were
moments when he appeared much
exercised on the subject.
II the military aspect of atomic
energy is played up in the legisla-
ton that is finally passed." he said
other nations will begin to wonder
what were up to. AS they wonder
tner suspicious will develop.
President Is Right.
/ hope we can get the Presidents
program through the Senate. The
President (who has said the pro-
gram should be under civilian con.
troD is everlastingly right on this
subject. He deserves the backing of
all the people so that his program
can 60 through"
Generally, under the Vandenberg
amendment, a military liaison board
would be established to act in an
advisory and consulting capacity to
the hve-man civilian commission
which would originate all atomic
energy developments. But the mill
tary board would have the authority
TO review any action it deemed re-
lated to national defense. In cases
OF disagreement between the board
and the commission, the Army and
Navy representatives could put the
question up to the President who
would have the last word.