Evening star., 1950-02-23
Truman's Talk Seen
As Appeal 10 Russia
For Atom Agreement
Indicates Thot Any
Soviet Suggestion Will
Get u. S. Attention
By David Laurence

President Truman has, in effect,
appealed to Russia to try to make
an agreement with the United
States to control atomic weapons.
The President used implicit Ian
guage in his Washington's Birth
day speech but his meaning is
clear. II Russia will suggest a
workable plan. America will be
glad to abandon its own pro-
posals.
"The stakes are too large" says
the President, Ito let us, or any
nation, stand on pride OF author
ship. We ask only a plan that
provides an effective, workable
system-anything less would be a
sham agreement. Anything less
would increase, not decrease, the
dangers of the use Of atomic ener-
gy for destructive purposes. We
shall continue to examine every
avenue. every possibility of reach
ing an agreement for effective
control"
This certainly opens up an op-
portunity for further discussion
and negotiation. even though Mr.
Truman reiterates his belief that
the plan which has been ap-
proved by the majority OF the
members Of the United Nations
would be effective without such
change.
Aware of Sentiment.
The President shows an aware
ness OF the sentiment that has
swept the world for developing
an atomic control agreement. He
insists that the United States will
continue ito work honestly and
whole-heartedly toward that end
hut we must remember that the
outcome is not ours alone to de-
termine" and he adds that "the
actions Of men in other countries
will help to shape the ultimate
decision"
There is a curious sort of con-
eession here to world opinion-an
expression Of willingness to nego-
tiate even though a deep-seated
BELIEF prevails here that such an
effort would be futile because the
Russians have no intention to
allow international inspection or
control OF their atomic energy
developments.
Mr.. Truman In the same speech
moreover, condemned communism
not merely as an theology Of false
promises but one whose danger
lies in the fact that 1t is an
instrument Of an armed imperial
ism which seeks to extend its in
fluence by force"
In many respects the Presi-
dents address was a mere reitera i.
tion Of what Secretary Of State
Acheson said recently in his press
conference. The President made
almost the same points and speaks
more often Of defense against
armed Imperialism" than about
international negotiation of agree
ments.
Same Demand In Britain.
Undoubtedly, In Great Britain.
where Winston Churchill proposed
In a campaign speech that there
be a last effort to meet with
Stain and work out an agree
ment, somewhat the same public
demand exists as in this country
to do something more than or
ganize a military defense.
The net impression given by
Mr.. Truman's utterances is that
he does not see any other way
out than by furnishing economic
aid to undeveloped areas in the
world and to European democra- :
cies. and by organizing military
defense. While he calls this pro-
gram OF increasing the areas of
strength the hard path to peace, ~
he sees 1t. nevertheless, as the
existing situation. He warns that
we must not be DISCOURAGED by
dlfhculties and setbacks and we
must not be misled by the vain
hope Of finding quick and easy
solutions"
Altogether these words of real
Ism do suggest a pessimistic view
and a long, long road. They
should not by any means, how
ever. discourage the suggestion of
or finding Of alternative ways to
bring peace. For the President
himself comedies something be-
sides materialism is involved when
he says:
THE real strength of the free
nations is not to be found in any
single country or any one weapon,
but in the combined moral and
material strength Of the free
world"
The President, to be sure. has
not yet begun to mobilize that
moral and material strength and
his address doesn't open the door
wide to any other way except the
prescribed way Of armed waiting
and drifting.
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