Evening star., 1951-01-01
Biggest Single Factor
In Keeping Peace
Is Atomic Bomb
Writer is Convinced
1t Will Deter Russiu
From Stortine New War
By Dasid La,Crence

method and time of its use. This
correspondent is convinced that
the atom bomb will for the present
deter Russia from entering any
war-at least in 1851.
Atom bombs are expensive to
make. Nobody has ever disclosed
how many have been manufac-
tured. but such testimony as is
available from public statements
indicates that these bombs must
be numbered in the hundreds
rather than in the thousands. If
America has several hundred
available now, her capacity to
wreak destruction on an enemy is
far greater than that of any other
country.
If, as has been guessed, Russia
has fewer than so, it is to be as
sumed that she. will save them
for defense of her own territory
against opposing military forces,
and not merely for terror opera
tions in another country. This is
not to say that Americans can
feel an immunity from attack
our whole civil defense program
is based on the expectation that
some enemy bombers will get
through our defenseS either with
atom bombs or conventional
bombs.
So far as the use of the atom
bomb by this country is con-
cerned. it is probable that such
use as was made at Hiroshima
and Nagasaki will not be repeated.
There were not enough military
installations in those cities to war;
rant use of the bombs from a mill
tary viewpoint. Primarily it was
demonstration that we had the
atom bomb and could detonate it..
The late Secretary Stimson re-
vealed subsequently we had only
six bombs at that time.
Tactical Use Seen.
The use of the atom bomb on
a tactical basis-that is, against
organized armies-is the coming
thing. Little has been made pub
lie beyond the fact that the atom
bomb is considered an effective
weapon for tactical warfare en-
t1rely apart from it's uses to de-
stroy factories and plants. It can
give big advantages to a smaller
sized army against one of superior
numbers.
Whether America will or will
not be the first to use the bomb
Is a question that may never be
resolved in advance of events. The
viewpoint expressed in the House
OF Commons recently by Winston
Churchul-Who knows the secrets
OF the bomb from his experience
IN Wart1me-comes nearest to ex-
pressing what is the basic reason
ing here on the whole matter. He
said:
1T is only the vast superiority
OF the United States in this awful
weapon that gives us any chance
Tor survival. The argument is now
put forward that we must never
use the atomic bomb until It has
been used against us first. In other |
words, you must never fire until
you have been shot dead. That |
seems to me undoubtedly a silly
thing to say and a still more i'm
prudent position to adopt.
Moreover such a resolve would
certainly bring war nearer. The
deterrent effect of the atom bomb
Is at the present time almost our
sole defense. It's potential use Is
the only lever by which we can
nope to attain reasonable con-
sideration in an attempt to make
a peaceful settlement with Russia.
II they had superiority, or
even something like equality in this
weapon with the United States. I
cannot feel any assurance that
they would be restrained by con-
sclentious scruples or moral in
hibitions which are so often vocal
In this country. 1t would certainly
be a poor service to the cause of
peace to free them from all cause
OF apprehension until they were
ready in every respect to strike
References Not Casual.
The inference that can be
drawn from the Churchill speech
is that Mr.. Truman's repeated
references to the atom bomb are
perhaps not as casual or careless
as the public has sometimes been
led to believe.
Recently there was a furry over
Mr.. Truman's remark at a press
conference that the use of the
bomb was under active considera-
tion-and that it always is.
Promptly Europeans became ex-
cited and Prime Minister Attlee
of Great Britain flew to America
to see the President just to find
out what procedure would be
utilized in the event a crisis re-
quired the dropping of the atom
bomb. Europe fears Russia may
be the first to throw bombs-on
London. Paris and Rome.
1t is to be noted that after the
conference Mr.. Truman made no
promises publicly to refrain from
using the bomb. He expressed the
hope that it's use would be un-
necessary. He promised to keep
our Allies informed. He did not
promise to consult other govern
ments before making a decision
for the simple reason that an
emergency may arise in which
there would not be time for
consultation.
Under existing law. only the
President of the United States car
order the use of the bomb. He car
delegate authority to the com
manders in the field. The impress
sion prevails here that he ha,
made no such delegation of au-
thority as yet and would not de