Evening star., 1949-09-26
Russians Confident,
But Give Few Details
On Atomic Claims
By Eddy Gilmore

today as they studied Russia s
claim that she has had atomic
weapons for at least two years
The Russian statement-issued
yesterday by Tass, official Soviet
news agency-was the first official
reaction to President Truman's
announcement that evidence had
been discovered of a recent atomic
blast in Russia.
It did not confirm or deny such
m explosion, but recalled the
statement of Soviet Foreign Min
lister Molotov on November 6
1947. that the secret of the atom
bomb "has long ceased to exist
It said Russia has had atomic
weapons since that time.
Favors Ban on Use.
Observers attention was focused
mainly on the last two para
graphs of the Tass statement
These paragraphs read: ...
''It should be pointed out thai
the Soviet government. despite the
existence in its country of ar
atomic weapon, adopts and in.
tends adopting in the future its
atomic position in favor of the
absolute prohibition of the use
Of the atomic weapon.
Concerning control of the
atomic weapon, it las to be said
that control will be essential in
. order to check up on fulflllment
of q decision on the prohibition
Of production of the atomic
weapon"
(Russia long has urged out
lawing the atom bomb and
advocated controls to make
the ban stick. However, she
has turned down the American
plan for detailed controls and
inspection)
Molotov Statement Cited.
Referring to Mr.. Molotov's 1s47
statement that the atom bomb was
no longer secret, Tass asserted T:
'"This declaration meant that
the Soviet Union had already dis
covered the secret of the atom
bomb and it has at its disposal
this weapon"
Tass added that American scien-
lists had regarded the Molotov
statement as bluff" because they
thought Russia was incapable of
developing q bomb before 1852.
"They, however. were mistaken,
since the Soviet Union possessed
the secret of the atomic weapon
already in 1947," the news agency
declared.
The Soviet statement had the
effect of seeking to plant the
idea here and abroad that Russia
is much farther advanced than
Mr.. Truman's announcement
about a recent" explosion would
indicate.
Moscow's morning papers to-
day made no reference to yester-
days Tass announcement.
Public Not Surprised.
The Tass announcement ap-
peared to create no great surprise
Among the Russian people. A
number of Russian citizens. when
interviewed about the statement,
said they had felt all along Rus
sia had atomic weapons.
"Of course we have" said a
housewife. "I have never doubted
-"
IT always felt" said a painter.
~that we had atomic weapons if
anyone had them. Now I am sure
about it,
A male university student COM
mented: II think there's now a
good chance we all may have an
agreement on atomic control"
"Who has ever doubted the
Soviet Union had the atomic
secret?" asked a taxi driver. ''But
it is good to have it explained
30 completely"
What Molotov said in 1947 was
clear enough said a subway
worker. "All Russians under
stand that he meant our govern
ment possessed atomic weapons
at that time. This announce
ment came as no surprise"
Reds Keep Up.
Said a mechanic: "Tlle an
nouncement makes clear our SCI
entists have kept up with or
excelled the Americans"
editors note: All news from
Moscow must pass the Rus
sian censor and seldom in re-
cent years have interviews with
ordinary Russian people been
passed.)
Some foreign observers-and
these include men who have been
here q long time-said they felt
all along that the Russians knew
the secret and probably had per-
fected some kind of atomic
weapon.
One observer said he could find
nothing in the Tass statement
denying that an explosion had
taken place in Russia.
II am convinced" he said, that
some kind of huge explosion did
take place here within recent
weeks"
He pointed out that the Russian
statement did not say that such
an explosion or explosions were
caused by an atom bomb, but that
1t said construction projects are
going forward which call for big
explosions caused by the newest
technical means or devices.
Danny Kaye Praises