Evening star., 1955-03-15
Little A-Bomb
Use in Conflict
Hinted byDu||es
Might Be Dropped
On Military Targets,
Secretary Says
o., L. " ill.,.
BY John V. Homer

SECRETARY Oh OIdIe bulleS III
dicated today that the United
States would use its new pre-
cision atomic weapons to wipe
out military targets wherever
necessary if this country becomes
involved in a major war effort.
He told a news conference the
decision on their use would be up
to the President.
The Secretary said the rela-
lively small weapons, fired from
guns or dropped from airplanes,
can obliterate selected targets
without inf1icting vast destruc-
tion on civilian areas.
Although the weapons rip open
huge craters, Mr.. Dulles said they
do not involve the danger of
atomic fallout. He said Aneri-
can forces use these tactical
weapons almost daily in training
exercises and work close to target
areas. AS the stockpile increases.
he added, the likelihood of the
necessity of inf1ictlng vast de-
struction goes down.
Situation Changed
Mr.. Dulles contrasted this
situation to that pertaining in
World War II, when saturation
bombing was judged necessary
because the enemy military ma
chimes could not be put out of
business. In that war, he said,
1t became necessary to put the
people out of business by attack
ing industrial plants
The Secretary declined again
to state specifically whether the
United States would defend the
Quemoy and Matsu Islands from
Chinese Communist attack. He
told the reporters speculation on
the subject depends on Red
China's intentions.
The issue is whether a Com
muniSt attack on the offshore
islands would in fact be a part
of an attack on the Nationalist
held island of Formosa and the
Pescadores. He reiterated that
he could find little encourage
ment in the Far East situation
because Red China has indicated
1t intends to conquer the Ma
tionallst strongholds.
Mr.. Dulles said it seems quite
possible that the Chinese Com
munists do not intend to stop
until they are stopped by supe-
rlor resistance. He said, however,
he could not foresee when an
attack would come or exactly
where the Reds would strike,
adding it may be next week,
next year, or maybe never.
Would Welcome Cease-Fire
The Secretary recalled that he
has repeatedly made it clear that
the United States does rot be-
heve IN and does not desire that
the Chinese problem be solved
by the use of force and that he
has made it clear that a cease
fire would be welcome.
Mr.. Dulles was asked 70 COM
ment on a statement by Senator
KnoWland, Republican, of CAL
ifornia that if all other means
fail the American 7th Fleet
should be ordered to intercept
the Finnish tanker Aruba, which
is bound for Red China with an
important cargo of jet fuel.
He said the United States is
not operating a naval blockade
and unless there is a change of
policy use of the 7th Fleet for
such purpose would not be con-
sistent with present policy. He
said, however, that President
Eisenhower has legal authority,
if deemed necessary, to use the
fleet as proposed.
Replying to followup ques-
tion, he said he doubted, per-
sonally. that seizure of the YES
sci under those conditions would
constitute an act of war al
though this is undoubtedly in
the borderline zone.