Evening star., 1954-10-20
For a More Secure America

For a More Secure America
Most Of the reports Of DR.. vannevar
Bush's testimony last June before the House
Government Operations Committee have
stressed his criticisms Of our internal Sc
curity program. But the significance Of his
second point-the lag in the planning and
production Of new weapons certainly
should not be minimized or overlooked.
The security question Is exceedingly
difdcult, and DR.. Bush, Of course, was only
one Of number Of witnesses who discussed
1t before the House committee. Not all Of
the witnesses take as dark view of this
matter as does DR.. Bush, but it Is fair to
say that the others do not belittle It's i'm
portance.
DR.. Bush, wartime head Of the ONCE Of
Scientific Research and Development and
currently president Of the Carnegie Institu-
ton, thinks that "the way in which our
security system is working at the present
time is driving wedge between the military
and the scientific people Of the country, and
is doing great HARM" In his judgment,
scientists today are discouraged and down.
hearted and feel that they are being pushed
out. and they are" Gle did not say by
whom.) At the same time, DR.. Bush does not
question the need for adequate security
measures. I'VE have traitors in our midst"
he says, "and there is reason for being
afraid of them" What he would like to see
is every effective type Of security to pre-
vent leaks of technical matters -. or any
other matters that should be held under
secrecy" without resorting to methods
which impair the morale of scientists whose
contributions are essential to real security.
The problem is how to achieve this balance,
and it must be said that, in this respect, the
published testimony offers little in the ma
ture of specific recommendations.
The case is quite different with the
second point raised by DR.. Bush, and dis
cussed by the other witnesses. This has to
do with the vital field Of weapons develop
ment-a field in which nothing but disaster
awaits us If we fall behind.
DR.. Bush believes that we are not
making the progress that we should be
making. and he contends that "the difficulty
lies in our planning at the very top ech-
elons." His testimony on this point, as pub
lished, is not criticism Of individuals, but
rather criticism Of organization. Further
more, this criticism is accompanied by
specific recommendations for improvement,
which cannot be detailed in this space, but
which are fully set forth in the committee
report. One recommendation, however, may
be mentioned. A year ago the Rockefeller
Board returned report which urged the
formation of a planning committee at the
level Of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This COM
mittee would have been composed of senior
officers, detached from their services, and
serving their last assignment. The function
of this committee, as proposed, was to ex-
anime the way in which modern weapons
At into warfare, and report to the Secretary
of Defense. The Joint Chiefs might COM
ment on the committees findings, but they
could not hold them up or withhold them.
For the light 1t sheds, this comment by DR..
Bush should be added: 81 think the Joint
Chiefs are placed in an impossible position
because Of their organization"
The real point is, however, that the
report containing this recommendation was
made year ago. The President approved
the report The Secretary of Defense had
authority to implement the proposal. But
at the time DR.. Bush testified nothing had
been done in this respect.
It is not necessary in a matter of this
kind to assume that DR.. Bush and his fellow
critics are surely right, or that those upon
whom their criticism falls must be wholly
wrong. Those on the Government side are
not blind or Indifferent, as may be seen from
the testimony of Donald Quarles, Assistant
Secretary Of Defense for Research and De-
velopment But it is only reasonable to urge
that criticism emanating from such re-
spectacle and responsible sources should
receive the most careful and most thought
full consideration. For we shall be courting
destruction if we permit hardened attitudes
or outmoded methods to govern our prep
arationS for the defense Of the United
States.
Parallel Improvements
Announcement bv Woodward g. LOthrOp