Evening star., 1949-09-24

White House for a conference v
after the Presidents announce
Russia. Gen. Collins is leaving
spection trip of Army installati
the Army announced later.
bomb as IAN important fact to
remember"
Mr.. Acheson was the first top
official to say for publication that
he assumed the blast in Russia
was that of an atomic weapon. He
insisted that the event makes no
change in American policy.
Need for Control Stressed.
Mr.. Truman's statement stressed
that the Russian development en-
phasizes anew the need for the
kind of truly effective enforce
able international control of
atomic energy which the United
States has been seeking in the
United Nations. Russia so far
has blocked effective control
agreement by holding out against
inspection and enforcement meas
ures.
DR.. Arthur H. Compton, noted
scientist, said that unless firm
agreements are reached to the
contrary, the atomic weapons race
is on"
He pointed out, as did many
other authorities, that the pro-
duction of one bomb "does not
mean that Russia is prepared now
to match us in atomic war" be-
cause time is needed to accumu-
late enough atomic weapons.
The Federation of American
Scientists agreed that ''this new
development probably will have no
immediate effect on Russia's ca
tpacity to wage war"
If Russia's atomic explosion is
indeed bomb" said a federation
statement. "it should. be kept in
mind that it would take at least
a couple of years after making the
first bomb to build up a stockpiie
of military significance"
In comparison with the United
States. the Russians are four
years behind in their atomic de-
velopments on the basis of all in
formation available here. The
first bomb was made and exploded
in this country in 1945 and manu-
facture and stockpiling have gone
on at a maximum rate since.
Authorities say it is safe to as
sumo that the Russians, in revis-
ing their military calculations,
must consider that the United
States has a great margin of
atomic power which the Soviet
cannot match for some time to
come.
The view that Russia's capacity
to wage war is not materially
changed for the time being was
widely. held in Congress. although
there was some alarm.
Rankin Would Move Capitol.
Representative Rankin, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi, greeted the
news with the prompt suggestion
that plans be drafted Immediately
for moving the Capitol to Ken
lucky. Representative Cunning
ham, Republican, of Iowa, said
1T means that World War III is
that much closer"
But the comment of Senator
Mcmahon, Democrat, of Connec-
ticut, chairman of the Senate
House Atomic Energy Committee,
was more typical.
"Our entire program has been
based on the assumption that this
very thing would come to pass,
and we knew it would" he said.
Senate Majority Leader Lucas
took the lead in urging co-opera-
Jon with Britain and Canada in
atomic development.
That program now is under dis
cussion here by representatives of
the three governments. Involved
is a division of production from
the worlds chief source of urani-
um-needed In making bombs-as
well as proposed wider exchange
of information between the three
countries.
Lucas Favors Sharing Secrets.
Senator Lucas said the question
of sharing secrets with the British
and Canadians now is merely
academic, adding:
1--WE are going to cooperate
with them"
Senator Russell, Democrat, Of
Georgia, member of the joint
Atomic Energy Committee, agreed.
But he added:
1--WE ought to concentrate bomb
making in this country, where it
Is farthest from Russia, and not
dissipate our efforts"
In his announcement yesterday
President Truman took the lead in
a chorus of proposals for new
United Nations efforts to reach
an agreement for internationl con-
troll and inspection of atomic
weapons.
Bernard Baruch said he agreed
with President Truman. Mr..
Baruch, one of the Nations
"elder statesmen" formerly rep
resented the United States on the
United Nations Atomic Energy
Commission.
II agree completely with the
President" Mr.. Baruch said in a
statement, adding that he be-
lieved the President has never
Wavered in his attitude toward