Evening star., 1955-03-03

III saying dC MS news conference JQaL
time may possibly come when lead in
atomic-hydrogen weapons will not be sig
nificant in country's defense arrange
ments, President Eisenhower has not taken
issue with Prime Minister Churchills elo-
quent address on the H-bomb For Sir
Winston has made essentially the same
point In declaring that the current grim
race Is likely to reach a counterbalancing
stage where although one power is stronger
than the other-perhaps much stronger
both are capable of inflicting crippling or
quaSimortal injury on the other with what
they have got"
Similarly, although describing the sub
ject as too problematical for fixed conclu-
sions or specific time estimates, the Presi-
dent has not contradicted Sir Winston's
assertions Q) that our present American
capacity to make and deliver A and H
weapons is overwhelmingly" superior to
the Soviet Unions; (2) that the United
States is "the only country which is able
to deliver today full-scale nuclear attack
with hydrogen bombs at few hours no
tice"; (3) that the men Of the Kremlin will
require some years-possibly as many as
four-to catch up with us in that sense;
and az that it is therefore most unlikely"
that they will start major war between
now and 1858 or 1885,
OF course, as far as such points as
these are concerned, there is room for
judgments are more conservative-or less
so-than the Prime Minister'S. However,
although he has left that matter for
gueSswork, there can be no doubt that Mr..
Eisenhower sees eye to eye with the main
thesis of Sir Winston's address. For that
thesis, In effect, adds up to a powerful
appeal for reSolute continuation and
steady strengthening of the policy-revolv-
ing around the closest possible Anglo Amer
ican co-operation-which the free allied
world has been following, under the leader
ship Of the United States, ever since the
Kremlin turned its back on genuine dis
armament and launched its deadly postwar
effort to achieve global domination through
subversion and aggression.
Thus, while declaring that the atomic
hydrogen race has placed mankind Gin
situation both measureless and laden with
DOOM" Sir Winston has warned that unless
and until "a trustworthy and universal
agreement upon disarmament, conventional
and nuclear alike, can be reached and an
effective system of inspection is established
and is actually working, there is only one
sane policy for the free world in the next
few years. That is what we call defense
through deterrents"-a program essential
to survival. And he has gone on to say
that this means, among other things, that
his own country must not only maintain
regular armed forces, but also make
H-bombs and build up-in concert with the
United States-all the striking power
needed to destroy the aggressor's bases "in
the first few hours" If the Communists
precipitate a major war.
Like President Eisenhower and all
other allied leaders, the great British
statesman trusts that this policy will sue
ceed in preserving peace and paving the
way for genuine disarmament. In any
event, brooding over what could happen to
tomorrow's world 'if God wearied of man
kind" he has faith enough now to hope
that the terror implicit in the deterrents
will deter the terror itself and that "the
day may dawn when fair play, love of ones
fellow men, respect for justice and freedom,
will enable tormented generations to march
forth serene and triumphant from the
hideous epoch in which we have to dwell"
Certainly, somber though they are, these
are appropriate words for our time,