Evening star., 1949-11-12
Mr.. Vishinsky on the Atom

In his speech to the Special Political
Committee of the United Nations General
Assembly, Soviet Foreign Minister Vishin-
sky has come close to declaring that the
Kremlin has arrived at final and ire
vocable decision against the majority plan
for international control of the atom.
Holding out no hope whatever for
agreement, Mr.. Vishinsky has drawn
picture of Russia determined to develop
atomic energy in its own interests with
out outside policing of any effective sort.
All it will tolerate is an understanding
whose substance would amount to nothing
more than treaty outlawing A-weapons
and setting up an inspection" system
under which an illicit, clandestine pro-
duction of those weapons could be readily
carried on.
However, as if to reassure world that
has long since come to distrust the Krem-
Inns word, Mr.. Vishinsky has affirmed that
his country has no other desire than to
use the atom for beneflcent purposes. In
deed, according to him, the Russians
right now" are using it to raze mountains,
irrigate deserts, cut through jungles, and
work numerous other wonders to spread
"life, happiness, prosperity and welfare
where the human footstep has not been
seen for thousand years"
Yet, in saying this, he has really cast
further doubt on the reliability of the
Kremlin's word. For if our own experts
are to be believed-and there is no reason
to disbelieve them-it is simply impossible,
at the present stage OF atomic develop
ment, for the Russians to do what Mr..
Vishinsky has said they are doing right
now" Actually, he himself has admitted
that he does not know where in his country
these good and marvellous things are hap
pening. And the mass Soviet public, Of
course, is even less aware of them, having
been kept in virtually complete darkness
as regards all aspects of its governments
work with the atom.
But though there is thus ample reason
to scott at the peacetirae atomic wonders
being wrought fright now" by the Rus
SLAMS, there is no reason whatever to scof
at Mr.. Vishinsky's half-threatful remarks
on stockpiling A-weapons. He has made
clear that the Soviet Union is sparing no
effort 20 be armed adequately with those
weapons when and II needed. And he has
left little room for doubt that it is dead
set against surrendering any measure Of
its sovereignty or freedom of action to
an international authority equipped with
policing powers effective enough to pre-
vent violations and evasions of treaty
outlawing them.
In other words, speaking for the Soviet
Union, Mr.. vishinsky has all but finally
rejected the majority control plan. AS
justification, he has said that even Amers
leans admit that the plan would not guar
antee against atomic horrors In case of
an all-out war; and he has gone on from
there to conclude that Russia and other
countries would therefore be senseless to
sacrifice part Of, their sovereignty In order
TO effectuate such setup-a setup that
could not work, in a real showdown
1t Is true, Of course, that there can never
be an absolute guarantee against war with
the atom. Even If Russia were to agree
to the majority plan, it or any other
nation could defy the international au-
thority, seize nuclear fssion plants within
its own. borders, and convert them to the
production OF A-weapons. But the crucial
point Is that such seizure would be
instantly known to the other powers and
the conversion to military output would
require enough time to permit united
action aimed at preventing the yiolator
from launching atomic attacks.
Nevertheless, harping on sovereignty and
moving in the dark behind the Iron Cur
tain, the Soviet Union sees no virtue in
the majority plan. In fact, II Mr.. Vishin-
sky's words suggest anything at all, they
suggest that the world, like squirrel
chasing It's own tail In a revolving cage,
| will be wasting its time II It keeps on
trying to persuade the men Of the Kremlin
| to change their minds In effect, taking
| their stand against system Of collective
n