Evening star., 1949-04-07
Truman Says He d Use
Atom Bombs Again
To Save Democracies
By Joseph A. Fox

W SosSPH -. IVA
President Truman believes that
the Atlantic Pact is q guarantee
that the atom bomb never will
have to be used again-but he
would not hesitate to employ this
weapon II the fate OF the United
States and other democracies were
at stake.
The President explained his pos
1tion in q homely. of -the-cuf talk
last night to a hundred or so
freshmen members of House and
Senate who had a get-together
cocktail party and buffet supper
at the Carlton Hotel.
The affair was arranged by the
Democratic National Committee
to give the President and the new
members an opportunity to know
each other better.
Better Relations Forecast.
Mr.. Truman greeted each guest,
and as the affair ended, one
Southern lawmaker summed up
the reaction of his colleagues.
Representative Frazier of Tennes-
gee, said he thought the evening
had brought about a "closer rela-
tionship" between the administra-
ton and the party in Congress.
which has been giving Mr.. Tru-
man about as much trouble as the
"do nothing" 80th Congress.
The President had been talking
about his own early days in the
Senate when he branched off into
a discussion Of peace hopes. He
told of ordering the A-bomb used
against the Japanese in July, 1945.
explaining the step was taken not
only to save the lives of 100000
Americans. but of 100000 to AGO.
900 of the enemy.
Might Order Use Again.
"Now believe that we are In a
position where we will never have
to make that decision again." he
continued quietly. "but If it has
to be made for the welfare of the
United States-and the democ-
racies of the world are at stake
! wouldn't hesitate to use it again.
II hope and pray that it will
never be necessary"
Stressing that the Atlantic Pact
was a step toward this goal. Mr..
Truman said he hoped that the
new members Of Congress would
realize that "our only objective is
peace and the welfare of every
nation and every race in the
world"
Recalls House Aspiration.
The President had his audience
chuckling as he told of his one
time aspiration to go to the House
and said he thought he had fixed
himself up with a lifetime job
when the 4th congressional district
Of Missouri was set up. The refer
ence apparently was to the re-
districting of Missouri which the
Democrats put through a few
years ago.
When he finally was elected to
the Senate, he continued, a philo-
sophie old friend admonished him
not to come to Washington with
IAN inferiority complex"
This friend, he said. told him
'you'll sit the first six months
wondering how the hell you got
there, and after that you'll wonder
how the hell the others got there"
The audience also appreciated
the Presidents reference to his
period as Vice President when he
was presiding officer Of the Sen
ate and twice cast votes which
broke ties.
Those two tie votes resulted
in the confirmation of Henry
Wallace as Secretary Of Com
merce," he explained, as his hear
ers laughed. And all Of you know
what Henry did to me after that
and what he tried to do in the
last campaign-and is still trying
to do"
Rayburn Toastmaster.
Speaker Rayburn served as
toastmaster and introduced the
guests who included also Vice
President Barkley and members
of the Cabinet.
The Texan told his young col
leagues that members Of Congress
are just plain people" and he
said the President came here
Just to be one Of US"
Il thank God every day OF my
life that He and the American
people have given us a human
being to be President OF the
L.