Evening star., 1947-06-18
Walsh Sees War Peril
lin Russia as Soon as
Reds Have Atom Bomb
Fixes Time as Three
To Four Years, Urges
Universal Training Now
By ]. A. O'Leory

pJ >. -. " LSoTy
There will be danger of Rus
sia's starting "a shooting war
as soon as Prime Minister Stain
gets the atomic bomb. "in three
or four years." the Very Rev. DR.,
Edmund A. Walsh, vice president
of Georgetown University. told
the House Armed Services Com
mittee today.
While making a strong plea fol
immediate passage of the admins
tration's universal training plan
Father Walsh was asked by Rep
resentative Thomas, Republican, o1
New Jersey, If Stalin's postwar pat
tern is the same as Hitler's prewal
one.
with one exception-to achieve
it (his objectives) without shooting,
DR.. Walsh replied.
The Jesuit educator, who was q
member of President Truman's Ad.
visory Commission on Universal
Training, went on to explain thai
the Soviet pattern was to spread its
doctrine by infiltration, capture o1
trade unions and by boring from
within"
Says Reds Have Data Now.
''If he fails by those methods. will
he resort to shooting, and how soon?'
asked Representative Thomas.
The witness hesitated to speculate
on the time element, and Mr.
Thomas repeated his question, leav.
ing out the question of "how soon.'
'Not until he is in possession o1
the atom bomb" DR.. Walsh replied
But I am prepared to go on record
before this committee that he Ii
already in possession of the informa-
tion on how to produce it, and prob
ably will have it in three or -four
years."
He said the main element lacking
in Russia is the presence of scien-
fists equal to those who developed
the bomb, but added that he hao
been informed that the Russians
have been kidnapping scientists
from Germany" to supply that def
cheney.
Sees Delaying Tactics Reason.
THAT is why Gromyko and the
others are stalling in the United
Nations. because every stall is a
gain," Father Walsh added:
Earlier, Representative Bates, Re-
publican, of Massa achusetts, asked
DIR. Walsh how the situation today
from the standpoint of this country s
security, compares with the period
from 1888 to 1910, which led this
country to adopt a selectiye training
program.
THE only difference lies in the
fact that in 1889 and 1910 there
was already shooting war" Father
Walsh replied. "At present 1t is
not a shooting war. and, conse-
quently, for the American people
the danger fades away, I regret to
say"
Father Walsh said he had a
strong opinion of the ability of the
American people to meet a crisis,
but added, TT has to drop on their
heads as it did on Pearl Harbor."
He said the shooting" that is
done now SIS done behind an iron
curtain" by arrests and by getting
out of the way those who might
offer opposition.
Amazed at Criticism.
Father Walsh said he was amazed
during the hearings conducted by
the Presidents commission to have
respected American citizens say he
was a traitor to the Government
of the United States and to your
cloth"
He said when he asked these wit
nesses about the dangers that face
the world today they suggested ef-
forts should be made to win them
over by sweetness and light"
THE idea that you can win over
a totalltar1an government by sweet
ness and light is a delusion that
time is gradually uprooting," Father
Walsh continued.
Representative Gavin, Republican
of Pennsylvania asked DR.. Walsh il
he thought Congress should take
immediate action on the universe
training program.
Not only do I think SOL pray
for it every morning" he replied
Time is running out, and the politi-
cal bureau in Moscow that is creep
ing across Europe isn't going tt
adjourn for the summer"