Evening star., 1950-07-17
Korean War Unsuifed
For Use Of A-Bomb,
Mcmahon Believes
By ths Assoeiated Press

The possibility OF using the
atomic bomb in the Korean wal
was minimized yesterday by
Chairman Mcmahon of the joint
Senate House Atomic Energy
Committee.
Senator Mcmahon said he be-
lieves the military problem ir
Korea is such as to rule out use
Of the bomb.
Speaking in a television inter-
view, he said the A-bomb's
primary function is to hit either
sources Of power" or massed
troops.
"As I see the Korean situation,
YOU have ground troops widely
dispersed" he said. "The sources
of power of the North Koreans
are not being generated in North
Korea itself. I doubt if there are
any tank factories in North Korea
"I just feel militarily it isn't
the kind of weapon for use in this
kind of action"
Use Of Bomb Proposed.
There have been several sug-
gestions in Congress that the
United States use the atomic
weapon against the Communists
in Korea.
Senator Brewster, Republican
Of Maine, renewed his suggestion
yesterday that Gen. Macarthur be
given authority to use it if he
thinks that will save American
lives.
IT shudder to think of dropping
1t on those deluded madmen in
Korea" he said in a radio broad
cast. But if it is, in Gen. Mac
Arthur's judgement, expedient to
save American boys form being
murdered in cold blood with their
hands tied behind their backs.
think he should be given that
authority.
That's what we are spending
billions on these bombs for"
Senator Mcmahon was asked
whether production of the hydro
gen bomb would divert materials
and personnel away from atomic
bomb production.
Would Divert Personnel.
att is true" he said, "that with
q certain amount of personnel
and a certain amount of mate
rails, that if you were going to
produce hydrogen weapons you
would have to divert some of your
personnel and some Of your mate
pals to hydrogen production,
which would result in fewer
atomic bombs"
''It is true, however, in my
opinion" he added. "that by put
ting on extra steam and extra
effort, and recruiting the extra
personnel, that we can maintain
at least our present production of
atomic weapons and, on top OF
that, produce hydrogen weapons. y
Senator Mcmahon said he be-
lieved the H-bomb could be built,
bat that he hoped it never will be
delivered.
He said he hoped. however, that
it would be built, t.because I'm
convinced the Soviets are working
at it and If we don't build it they
WOULD anyway"
Wants u. s. Well Armed.
'sI cannot for one moment agree
that this country (should) be less
well armed than any other nation
ia the world" he said. especially
one that has said so pointedly and
50 many times that it intends to
dominate the earth"
interviewing Senator Mcmahon
were Marshall Mcneil of the
Scripps- Howard papers, Mae Craig
OF the Portland (Me.) Press
Herald, Ed Nellor of Cowles Pub
locations and Lawrence Spivak Of
the American Mercury magazine.
Martha Rountree was moderator.
Senator Mcmahon was asked
whether the $3.50 million appro-
priation asked by President Tru-
man on July 7-for additional
atomic energy plants "of advanced
design"-was "for some entirely
new plant. separate from anything
Acc has now"
That's true" he replied.
Asked If a site had been selected
he replied:
ITS in the process Of being