Evening star., 1953-08-20
j. ). Confirms
Soviet Claim on
H-Bomb Test
2-Yeor Lead Implied
For This Country by
Strauss, Acc Chief

AAAS SAAAbSN ov1VCo UOOdy COll~
f1rmed Russia's boast of having
touched off a hydrogen explo-
sion, but implied that this coun-
try has a two-year lead in the
race to perfect the most ave-
some weapon know to science.
Whether either country has
yet developed a true E-bomb-
that is, device compact enough
to be carried aboard a warplane
remains unknown to the pub
lie.
The Communist newspaper
Pravada said in Moscow late last
night "the explosion of a type
of hydrogen bomb was carried
out with experimental aim"
This prompted Chairman
Lewis l.. Strauss of the Atomic
Energy Commission to announce
early today that (A) United
States atomic Sleuths, had de-
tected a Soviet atomic blast
eight days ago and then later de-
termined that both conventional
and H-type reactions were in
volved and (B) United States
atomic tests in the Pacific in
both 1851 and 1852 involved sim
liar reactions.
Call for Full Revelation.
There was no immediate ex-
planation of why the United
States waited for the Russian
boast before putting out its own
announcement.
Pressure has been mounting in
Congress and elsewhere for
President Eisenhower to tell the
world more about the status of
the United States atomic weap-
ons program. That pressure is
certain to build up even more
now.
Meanwhile, Senator Potter.
Republican, of Michigan, said
Russia's progress on the hydro
gen bomb may have been
speeded by espionage in this
country that would make the
Alger Hiss case look like petty
larceny in comparison"
Senator Potter's statement
was read by Senator Mccarthy,
Republican, of Wisconsin, at a
public hearing of the Senate In
veStigationS Subcommittee into
charges that secret information
has been leaked from the Gov
ernment Printing Office.
Fears Leak Aided Reds.
Senator Potter said the sub
committees disclosures of "lax
and inept" security measures at
the printing plant give rise to
the question whether these are
typical of the security pro-
cedures in other Government
agencies"
Asserting I'VE may rightfully
ask how much the Soviet espi-
onage system hastened" devel-
opment of the Russian H-bomb,
Senator Potter said:
If such tactics were en-
ployed-and, on the basis of the
information which has been un-
earthed by this committee and
the FBI, such might have been
the case-then the Importance
and effect of such information
if placed in enemy hands would
make the Alger Hiss case look
like petty larceny in COMPARE
SON."
Wiley Asks New Study.
Hiss, one time high State De-
partment official, was accused
of giving secret Government
documents to the Communists.
He Swore ne did not and was
convicted of perjury. He is now
serving a prison sentence.
At the United Nations in New
York, Chairman Wiley of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee said Russia's announce
ment calls for a re-eXamination
of the whole question of dis
armament.
He said the United States
and Russia should make a new
effort to see if there is any
basis for agreement.
Acc Chairman Strauss state
ment about the Russian an
nouncement said:
"The Soviet Union conducted
an atomic test on the morning
OF August IL. Certain informa-
ton to this effect came into our
hands that night. Subsequent
information on the subject in
dicates this test involved both
fission and thermonuclear reac-
tionS."
"Thermonuclear" is the word
scientists use to describe a
hydrogen explosion. Unlike
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