Evening star., 1946-07-05
Pruvdu and the Atom

Pr0vdQ and the Atom
Like its recent comment on the
American plan for international
control of the atom-a plan whose
text apparently has not yet been
published in the Russian press
Pravda's first evaluation of the
Bikini experiment Is so distorted as
to make any trusting reader believe
that the United States is not much
better than an ogre intent upon
using the A-bomb to win domination
of the world.
Thus, ignoring completely the
wholly legitimate and scientific ma
ture OF the test, the Communist
party organ-in an article by Boris
Izakov-hands down the judgment
that Bikini must be regarded merely
as another expression of our atomic
diplomacy" and that it has proved
us to be interested primarily not in
doing away with A-weapons but in
perfecting them for use as vulgar,
common blackmail" in order to
"force concessions from the Adriatic
to Korea"
Perhaps if the situation were re-
versed, II the Russians had the bomb
and we did not and If they staged a
similar test and we were in the posi-
ton Of outsiders looking on, there
would be the same sort of extraordi-
narily bitter and suspicious reaction
from numerous American Mr.. liza
kovs. At the same time, however,
since we have a free press, there
would be more moderate. less dis
torted, fairer and generally objec-
tive comment from many other
quarters in our country, and the
whole subject thus would be placed
in much better perspective. More
over, again assuming that we were
strangers to atomic energy and that
Russia alone possessed the essential
"know-how," the text OF any control
plan presented by the Moscow gov
CI AIlCAb WoulO CAJOy W1oCoPICoo
publication in our newspapers.
But Pravda and Pravda's Mr.. La
kov unfortunately are not balanced
OF in Russia by other newspapers
and other commentators speaking
out along a different line. Indeed,
as far as high-policy matters are
concerned, the Soviet press and in
dividual Soviet journalists have such
an identity of views that they might
just as well all 60 by the name of
Pravda or Mr.. Izakov. The result
is that their reading public is kept
pretty thoroughly in the dark about
the other side of any given story
unless and until the government
DEGREES otherwise.
To say the least, such an arrange
ment is decidedly nonconducive to
an enlightened and cooperative in
ternational effort to bring the deadly
power of the atom under a system
of effective world control. How can
the Russian people know where we
stand If their press keeps the text of
our plan secret? How can they be
expected to join with us as informed
friends in coping with this enormous
problem-the most urgent before
mankind-if their Mr.. Izakovs, un-
contradicted by other Soviet COM
mentators, fill them with danger
ously tall and poisonous tales about
atomic blackmail at Bikini?
About the only thing to be said in
the circumstances is that it must be
hoped that every word appearing in
the Russian press does not absolutely
and precisely reflect the firm and
settled views of the Soviet govern
ment. It must be hoped that the
same spirit animating Mr.. Izakov
in Pravda does not animate Mr..
Gromyko at the current fateful
meetings of the United Nations
Atomic Energy Commission. This
is an important hope; If it does not
prove to have substance, the future
will be a dreary one indeed.