Evening star., 1953-10-10

hoped-for program to inform the American
people as to Russias atomic weapons progress
is not going to amount to very much.
Certainly President Esenhower's press con-
ference statement adds little or nothing to the
sum of public knowledge. This was no Off
the-cuff comment. On the contrary the Pres
ident began by saying that his statement would
be made available in writing because he wanted
to say exactly what he meant. The following
are the key paragraphs:
The Soviets now possess stockpile of
atomic weapons of conventional types, and we
must furthermore conclude that the powerful
explosion Gin Russa) of August 18th last was
produced by weapon or the forerunner of
weapon of power far in excess of the conven-
tional types
We therefore, conclude that the Soviets
have the capability of atomic attack us,
and such capability will increase with the
passage of time.
Prior to this, the President had said that
the August IL explosion was Soviet test of
an atomic device in which some part of the
explosive force was derived from thermo-
nuclear reaction, that is to say what is popu-
larly known as the H-bomb."
These statements, taken together, might
be best described as a minimum summary of
facts and conclusions which had previously
is nothing new in it. Furthermore, General
Eisenhower carefully avoided any speculation
with respect to some of the more critical
questions.
For instance, when he stated the conclusion
that the Soviets have the capability of atomic
attack on us, he refrained from any guess as
to the magnitude of such attack Nor did he
discuss their means of making an attack
whether by old one-way bombers, by newer jet
bomberS or by some other means. Furthermore,
beyond saying that the Soviet capability will
increase with the passage of time, he offered
nothing on the critical question of when the
Russians may be expected to attain a degree of
strength, particularly in H-bombs and the
means of delivery, which might enable them
to destroy us in surprise attack.
1t may we'll be that the President did not
get into this speculative area for the simple
reason that no one in this country knows pre-
cisely what the facts are on these points. There
was suggestion-when the President told
questioner that he had given the facts as he
thought they should be given at this moment
that he might have revealed more had he
wished to do so.
But the central fact is that he did not. He
hewed to the line of previously revealed facts,
and his announcement that he has asked all
members of his administration to refrain from
comment on Soviet nuclear capabilities unless
they first check their statements with the
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission
suggests tightening up on information in the
future
Perhaps, subject to one reservation, this
is all to the good. The requirement for clearing
statements through Acc Chairman Strauss
should minimize confusion" in official COM
ment on this subject, and that is desirable. The
reservation concerns public opinion. If the
Soviet threat were such that the President felt
impelled to accelerate our own effort at sub
Stantial increase in cost, he would need the
support of fully informed public. If he does
not contemplate such step-up in our own
effort, and apparently he does not, the factor
of public opinion assumes relatively little
Importance