Evening star., 1953-06-20
Too Much Atomic Secrecy?

In his article in the current issue of Foreign
Affairs, DR.. ]. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the
worlds foremost atomic experts, has set forth
strong argument in favor of telling the Ameri-
can people lot more than they have been told
thus far about the size and destructiveness of
the Nations ever-growing stockpile of nuclear
weapons.
To quote from the article, There are and
always will be, as long as we live in danger of
war, secrets that it is important to keep secret.
But knowledge Of the characteristics and prob
able effects of our atomic weapons, of-in rough
terms-the numbers available, and of the
changes that are likely to occur within the next
years, this is not among the things to be kept
the enemy stands"
Actually, in DR.. Oppenheimers opinion, the
Russians almost certainly know far more about
our atomic arsenal than do most Americans, who
have not been let in on basic facts for highly
questionable reasons of security. But even If
the men of the Kremin were less informed about
us than he thinks, he would still be in favor
Of giving the average citizen of the Nation
much greater information about A-weaponS.
Further, if the enemy learned something from
that 1t would not disturb him, for he holds to
the view that lit Is good for the peace of the
world if the enemy knows these basic facts
very good indeed, and very dangerous if he does
not.
Accordingly, as Dr. Oppenheimer sees the
situation, I'VE need the courage and the wisdom
to make public at least what, in all reason, the
enemy must know: To describe in rough but
authoritative and quantitative terms" where
the United States stands in the nuclear arma-
ments race. His own informed guess is that
we are far ahead of the Russians at this stage,
but he wants the American people to be given
certain now-classided data that will show them
just why our present great superiority does not
warrant complacency and why we must seriously
consider undertaking more vigorous effort to
build up our continental defenses against
possible atomic attack. He also favors less
secrecy in dealing with our allies because I'VE
cannot operate wisely If large half of the
problem we have in common is not discussed in
common"
DR.. Oppenheimer feels as he does because
he believes that the Nation, as long as extensive
security restrictions block the free play of public
opinion, cannot arrive at sound decisions bearing
upon its international and domestic security.
His belief is shared at least in part, by
growing number of other men well qualified to
comment on the subject. One such is Thomas E.
Murray, member of the Atomic Energy Com
mission, who has been particularly emphatic in
urging that the people be told more about
A-weapons and who has solemnly warned
against leave-it-to- the e-experts attitude
When authorities of this stature speak out
as they do, they merit serious attention. Their
views plainly indicate that too much atomic
information is being kept under wraps without
any justification from the standpoint of
security. They indicate, too, that such secrecy,
in their considered opinion, can work against
Nations inf he
in the circumstances could do worse than make
a special study to determine where present
restrictions can safely be lifted.