Evening star., 1946-06-21
Soviet Plan on Atom
Produces StuIemute
Congress Less Likely Than Ever
To Give Away Secret Now
By David Laurence

Congress Less Likely Than Ever
To Give Away Secret Now
By David Laurence
There was quite a sigh of relief here
among those who never have wanted
to give up the atomic bomb secret when
they read the cooperative statement
by Andrei Gromyko. the Russian rep
resentative at the United Nations.
Prior to the speech by the Russian
spokesman, 1t had been feared that
the Russians might accept the plan
onered by Bernard M. Baruch, the
American representative on the United
Nations Atomic Energy Commission,
whereby the atomic secret would be
given up gradually as assurance was
given by other nations against misuse
Of atomic energy.
What the Russian counterplan really
does is to produce a stalemate, which
is exactly what the proponents of keep
Ing the secret inside America really
prefer
The Baruch plan, which follows the
main ideas of the so-called Lilienthal.
Acheson report. Is considered here to
be a masterful presentation Of what
might properly be called q compromise
between those who do not want to give
up the secret at all and and those who
think America can afford to entrust
the secret to an international monopoly
under certain conditions guaranteeing
inspection in foreign lands.
Red Stand No Surprise.
1t was not seriously thought here
that the proposal in the Baruch plan
to abolish the veto would be accepted
by Russia and it was, therefore, no
surprise when the Russians cleverly
pointed out that, in effect, the United
States is exercising a veto when 1t
refuses to give up the secret except
under conditions and specifications
which the United States can check.
The sentiment for keeping the Sc
cret on atomic energy has grown rapid
ly in Congress and the biggest single
influence behind the building up OF that
sentiment is the attitude Of Russia In
world affairs. Had the Russians re-
vealed themselves as cooperative in
stead Of obstructive. in recent months,
1t would have been difficult for mem
bers Of Congress to argue that the
atomic secret should be forever kept
from any other nation.
The Russian tactics have strength
ened belief in many quarters here
that the Soviets are bent on world ex-
pansion and that they are not inter-
ested in preserving world peace but
instead are preparing for another war.
The Russian military force is the larg-
est in the world today, and the five-
year plan announced by Moscow has
strong military aspect. These points
are frequently referred to In discussions
here.
Also the effort OF the soviets to en-
circle the Balkans and the recently
stimulated program OF Communist in
filtration in South America have not
made members Of Congress feel like
handing over the atomic secret to
Russia.
States sign treaty agreeing not to use
the bomb and, instead, binding itself
to destroy the bombs that have already
been manufactured is considered re-
vealing. For such suggestion would
not be made by q nation which expect
ed to work out the bomb secret itself
in few years.
Missouri" Attitude.
The agitation inside the United States
to persuade our Government to give I'D
the atomic bomb data may now be ex-
pected to rise. Many left wingers" and
many others, who are not at all con-
nected with the Communist party line,
are likely to be calling on the Govern
ment at Washington to accept the Rus
sian proposal. From the outset the view
point outlined by Mr.. Gromyko appears
to have been propagandized rather
widely In this country.
Is a Missouri attitude. Show us, say
many of the members on Capitol Hill,
that we are going to live in a peaceful
society and we shall bind ourselves never
again to use the bomb. But ever since
VI day the conflicts and controversies
between Russia, on the one hand, and
the British and American democracies,
on the other, have been multiplying.
The Russians apparently are not sat-
is1ed with their vast territories. They
have annexed one-third of Poland-an
ally and victim of the war against the
Nazis-and have assumed what appears
to be control of the individual liberties
OF citizens in nearby satellite states.
This Is far different from merely estab-
fishing friendly" states as neighbors,
When American and British correspond
ents are subjected to severe censorship
or are excluded from various areas un-
der Russian control. 1t does not look
as If Moscow has learned how to build
up confidence in either the United
States or Great Britain.
As for the atomic bomb secret. It
never was so certain to be kept by the
United States than after the Russian
proposal was disclosed this week.
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