Evening star., 1949-09-28
Inside Story on Announcement
Of Reds Atom Blast Revealed

into the discussions to give his
professional views on the timing
and the content of the announce
ment and the probable reaction of
the public.
BY Thursday, it had been de-
cided that the announcement
should be made at a time and in
a manner to cause the least alarm,
but no date was definitely set. The
President decided that Chairman
Mcmahon of the Joint Atomic
Energy Committee and Senator
Hickenlooper, the former chair
man. should be notified simultan-
eously. Senator Hickenlooper
was not in Washington and Sena-
tor Mcmahon had just finished
making a Senate speech favoring
the aid program. His suggestion
that Mr.. Truman and Stain
should meet again was made be-
fore he was given the top secret.
Senator Mcmahon came to the
White House that afternoon and
a few hours later he called q meet
ing of his joint committee for Fri
day morning.
There had been a proposal,
never seriously pursued. that the
President make the announce
ment at his Thursday afternoon
Ipress conference. That idea was
quickly discarded because of un-
equal press facilities and the
danger of creating an hysterical
atmosphere. Nevertheless, there
was a mild state of White House
Ijitters at the press conference
over the possibility that some re-
porter might ask-as has been
asked at a press conference this
Summer-about an atomic ex-
plosion in Russia. Fortunately for
the White House, the conference
was one of the shortest on record
and Mr.. Truman was obviously
relieved when it was over.
Thursday evening and Friday
morning the announcement was
drafted. One group wanted a
short. two sentence announce
ment, merely stating that an
atomic explosion had occurred in
the U. S. S. r. and that American
policy remained the same. An
other group wanted a longer
statement that by giving back
ground would make the an
Inouncement less alarming. The
latter group prevailed.
Last Friday morning the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Ross agreed that
the announcement should be made
in the most routine manner after
the weekly cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile all officials, includ-
ing the cabinet officers, had been
briefed on what they should say
when interviewed by reporters.
The State Department had writ
ten a worksheet in which they
had tried to anticipate reporters
questions, and then gave the off,
cial answers. This question and
answer paper was designed to pre-
vent any official from disclosing
still secret information.
Also the British and Canadian
governments and the national de-
tense officers were informed about
the announcement.
Hysterical Reaction Detected. ,
AS soon as the cabinet session
ended, Mr.. Ross called the White
House reporters into his Office and
ordered the doors closed until
every reporter had a copy of the
announcement.
After the mimeographed sheets
were distributed there was a rush
for the doors. The historical news
was on its way to the world.
BY the time reporters started
getting interviews on the an
nouncement. all top Government
officials had read the State De-
partment's question and-answer
paper. No important additional
information was disclosed by these
officials. The announcement, made
in the most routine way that could
be devised, and the calm of Gov
Iernment officials debated hys-
terical reactions.
Had there been no Central In
|telligence Agency or National Sc
|curity Council, with its machinery
for co-ordinating the views of the
State Department, National De-
fense Establishment and the
Atomic Energy Commission. Mr..
Truman would not have had the
benefit of a worldwide intelli-
Igence network and the combined
wisdom and experience Of top ad-
visers who had been impartially
Informed of all pertinent facts in
Cne SlGuaGlOQ.
Under former conditions the in
itial information about a momen-
tous explosion In Russia presum-
ably would have come from the
Atomic Energy Commission or the
intelligence services of the War,
Navy or Air Force Departments.
The President would have lacked
adequate means for verifying the
information and obtaining more.
Might Have Faced Jealousies.
He might have been faced with
jealousies within the department
tai intelligence services, as dur
ing the war. There might have
been a conflict of personalities,
with some official. for personal or
political reasons leaking" the