Evening star., 1950-01-20

of the committee during the 80th
Congress when Republicans were
in control; he was bumped off
when the Democrats took over
last year. Congressional senior
ity custom dictates his return to
the first COP vacancy.
The exchange of Bricker for a
Vandenberg on so vitally impor-
tant a committe, would normally
displease the administration. The
mere recitation of what the COM
mittee must consider these days,
shows why that exchange now
seems to them almost a calamity
Question on H-BOmbs.
First, there is the question of
whether or not this country should
begin the manufacture of hydro
gen bombs. H-hombs will be
enormously more destructive than
present atomic bombs, which are
in turn enormously more destruc-
tive than the bombs which ex-
tinguished Hiroshima and Maya
saki. t
Because this is so,. the question
has arisen of whether or not new
efforts ought to be made to es-
tablish International control of
the bomb, If that should fail,
some people believe negotiations
should be commenced directly with
Russia. s @s.
AT yesterdays press confer
ence the President left open the
question Of manufacturing the H.
bomb. He did. however, deny
that the retiring ACC chairman,
David Lilienthal.. had offered to
go to Russia for a new effort to
convince Stain that the choice
in atomic matters is between con-
troll and the end of the world.
Mr.. Lilienthal is understood to
be opposed to manufacture of H
bombs until after new under
standings are attempted. He is
also in the camp of those who
believe that the utmost know
ledge consistent with security
must be constantly made avail
able to the American people SO
they will know their danger.
II past experience is any guide,
Senator Bricker will take a posi-
ton in opposition to the Lilien-
thai views.
The H-bomb issue is so vital
and so delicate, the President and
his leaders will not even discuss
it off the record. Leaks 50 far
have come from sources which
fear secrecy even more than they
do international and Congress
sional complications.
Second Crucial Dilemma.
| A second crucial dilemma which
the Joint Committee must solve
in cooperation with the White
House is that of exchange of
atomic information with Canada
and Britain. The British want
their own stockpile of A-bombs in
return for not joining in the race
to manufacture them.
This is an acute problem in in
ternational relations and military
defense. Again. If the record is
a guide, Senator Bricker will
bring an isolationist attitude te
bear on it.
Chairman Lilienthal is sched-
uled to quit February Is. He had
hoped to leave earlier but is re-
naming because he has proved SO
difficult to replace. Senator Van
denberg was a potent factor in
Mr.. Lilienthal's confirmation;
Senator Bricker opposed him.
Presumably Senator Bricker will
be equally hard to satisfy with re-
gard to a new chairman.
The administration has no
clear majority among the Joint
Committee Senators as these prob
lens impend.
-Four OF the flve Senate Dem
oerats ~ Chairman Mcmahon,
Senators Russell, Connally and
Tydings-are safely information
alist. administration In atomic
matters. The fifth, Senator john
son OF Colorado, inclines to isola-
tion and rugged individualisrn.
Among the Republicans, Sen
ator Knowland of California is off
the bipartisan reservation on
China, Senator Hickenlooper Is
out on O limb with his incredible
lmismanagement" charges against
the Acc, and Senator Millikin
more or less sides with his fellow
Coloradan. Senator Johnson. Now
Senator Bricker will be added.
The President is in better shape
in the House sector of the COM
lmittee; however the Senators
dominate and alone have power
to confirm members Of the Acc.
No blame attaches to Senator
Vandenberg for his resignation;