The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-09-08
.SYM|NGTON GIVEN
 QUIzzIkG, TALkFEST
 HELD IN SEATTLE
Moving of Boeing Plant Inland Diseussed-Gov-
 ernor Makes Argument

SEATTLE, sept. 8-tR-"Nothing more than a goth century retreat from Moscow
 That was Alaska Governor Ernest Gruenings description of the Air Force proposal to move boml-er production inland last night as members of the save Boeing' com mittee met with Air Secretary w. Stuart Symington.
 Its much better to stay where we are instead of going through the costly experiment of moving in land" Gruening asserted after Symington told the committee:
 Our potential enemy has heavy equipment which could hit Seattle harder than Wichita"
 Throughout the conference Sym ington preferred to use the word strategic" rather than vulnerable in reference to the northwest.
 When asked if the Boeing plant could be defended, he replied:
 we haven't said the Boeing plant is indefensible.
 He continued, however, to ex- plain that the Air Force did not want to build two models the BAY and the B-52--in the same plant, because an enemy might de- stroy both planes. with a single comb"
 Symington said the Air Force is leaving the construction of its number one transport, the C-97, and also the experimental development of the B-52 bomber in the Seattle Boeing plant.
 IFS IN ANSWERS
 "To the best of my knowledge, the B-52 will be built here.' he replied in answer to a question, and then quickly added several ifs. including whether Alaska is properly fortified by that time. Actual production work on the B-52 is about three years away.
 Symington appeared concerned over the weakness of Alaska de- lenses. He will leave for Alaska to- morrow to join the Joint Chiefs of Staff in their inspection tour of the Territory.
 The Air Secretary made it clear that work is now light" at Boeing's Seattle plant and that employees are facing a loss of their jobs.
 He said the Air Force is trying to "help" Boeing by urging the routing of more "subcontracts to the Seattle plant"
 Governor Gruening pleaded with the Air Force chief ito revise the decision and not start a movement that can result only in disaster"
 GOVERNORS PLEA
 Moving aviation production in- ward is "a retreat from reality Gruening said. It would be as wise. he pointed out, to remove the Bremerton Navy Yard to the Mis- sissippi river"
 The northwest is vulnerable, but it can be defended, the Alaska Governor charged.
 Tt is shocking" he challenged, ito see the Air Force, which pioneered in attack, be the first to advocate retreat.
 "The first thing to do is to de- fend Alaska, and Alaska will never te adequately defended until we get statehood.
 'sThe oceans are no longer sig nificant. The enemy we face is more dangerous than the last. His weapons include internal disorder and dissention."
 Governor Gruening included an appeal for statehood for Alaska in his talk to the conference group He said the voting representation in Congress that would come with statehood would enable Alaska to look out for itself.
 All the conferees made strong pleas for full defense of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Governor Gruening declared that the with drawal of even one bomber con- tract from the Pacific coast would set a precedent for withdrawing the Bremerton Naval Shipyard to the Mississippi river and the atomic plant at Richland to site behind