Evening star., 1948-03-20
U. 5. Abandons Hopes
For u. n. Agreement
On Atomic Control
offieioIs Anticipate Roce
To Stoy Aheod; Cite
Two Years Failure
By Russell Barnes


By Russell Barnes
North American Newspaper Aiiiones
LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y, Mar. 1s.-
Hope for United Nations agree
ment to control the atomic bomb
and thus lift the terrible threat that
overhangs the world has been vir-
tually abandoned by the United
States.
What may now be expected, ac-
cording to American oficials, is
speeding up of the international
atomic race, with the United States
going all-out to stay ahead of the
field.
While current tension between the
United States and Russia is un-
doubtedly a factor in the American
determination that prospects for
international atomic control are at
present hopeless, actually the con-
clusion is based on practical inabil-
ity to get anywhere in more than
two years work in the U. N. Atomic
Energy commission.
Appalled, by Outlook.
American atomic authorities are
appalled, by the dire outlook that
confronts the, world, but they de-
clare it would be contrary to the
interests Of both the United States
and the rest of the world to sur
render further atomic information
until the Russians agree to adequate
international atomic controls.
They declare American officials
will continue to attend meetings of
the U. N. Atomic Commission, but
they will only go through the mo-
tionS-they will make no new pro-
posals, and will not participate gen.
orally in discussions.
That situation will continue, 1t Is
said, until Soviet representatives
show some disposition to work with
those who desire to build a world of
strong, politically independent states,
cooperating to maintain peace and
to improve conditions of life"
Osborn Outlines Policy.
The American thinking behind the
new American atomic policy was set
forth by Frederick Osborn, deputy
United States representative on the
U. N. Atomic Energy Commission, in
q recent address. Mr.. Osbron ex-
planned:
"At the first meeting of the COM
mission, the United States came
forward with proposals to dispose of
its atomic weapons, to turn over to
an international agency all its plants
Tor making dangerous atomic ma
terlals, provided only that an effec-
tive system of control were estab-
lished.
Upon the establishment of such
control, all atomic weapons, and the
means for producing them, would be
prohibited to nations, and there
would be a complete exchange of
scientific information among ma
tions with respect to atomic deveI-
opments.
The hopes of the world were
high, that the very nature and dan
ger OF atomic explosives would lead
to the acceptance of this offer and
the working out of an international
system, which would not only pro-
tect the peoples of the world against
atomic attack, but would lead the
way to other and equally imagina-
tive approaches to the maintenance
OF world peace through co-opera-
tive effort. -
Hopes Rudely Upset.
These hopes were soon rudely
disturbed by the reception given
Our proposals by the Soviet dele
gates who claimed, almost at once,
that this was an attempt to ex-
tend an American monopoly, an at
tempt to interfere with the economic
life Of all countries, and, finally,
that the prohibition and destruc-
ton of atomic weapons must pre-
cede measures for their control"
MIR. Osborn described how the
U. N. atomic commission has held
more than 240 meetings, heard
many witnesses, and filed two de-
tailed reports with the Security
Council, and then added:
But the disagreement of the
Soviets is as complete today as at
any time in the past"
The American delegate said wit
nesses and all commission members,
except Soviet delegates, had agreed:
l. Atomic, materials must be con-
trolled from mine to final use.
2. Production processes must be
controlled. because materials des-
tined for peaceful purposes can be
transformed into bombs through
further processing.
3. Controls must be international,
because of the terrible power of the
atomic bomb.
4. Atomic weapons must be elm
mated from national armaments.
Mr.. Osborne explained how Soviet
proposals fall short of those de-
mands, eliminating finally in the
demand that any member of the
Security Council could veto punish
ment for atomic violators.
He declared all members Of the
q. N. Atomic Commission. except
the Soviets and their satellites, are
ready to adopt the proposed inter-
national atomic-control program,
based largely on the American sug-
gestions.
U. S. Soldier Killed in Jopon
KYoTO, Japan, Mar. 20 P.- ,
M/Sergt. Joseph A. Rockford of ,
Cuyahoga Falls. Ohio, was killed
Wednesday when his ieep was struck
by an electric train near Fukui, the
Army announced today.