Evening star., 1955-02-17
The 'H' Tests Must Go On

The Atomic Energy Commissions SOM
ber but calm. report on the immense poten-
tial menace Of radioactive "faIl out" from
thermonuclear explosion speaks for itself
as measure Of what could happen to the
United States and the world at large in the
event of total war with A-weapons and
hydrogen bombs.
Fall out" Of course, Is not the worst
aspect of either flssion or fusion atomic
detonation. Actually, its effect is only
secondary to the annihilating destructive
ness that can be wrought over huge target
area by the forces OF blast, heat and i'm
mediate radiation unleashed by such det-
onation. Nevertheless, although subordinate
in that sense, the cloud-borne menace is in
Itself terribly lethal thing that ranges
through the sky far beyond the point of
explosion. In fact, If it were let loose over
Washington (or Moscow by an H-bomb
comparable to the one tested by the Acc
last March, and If no adequate protective
measures were taken against it, it would
rain a vast amount of death on a cigar
shaped region extending through 1000
square miles in down-wind direction.
It is because of this danger, together
with the even deadlier kindred ones, that
Chairman Strauss has been at pains to
emphasize the Aces and the Nations hope
that mankind will never experience war
with A and H weapons. And 1t is for the
same reason that the White House has made
point of declaring that the "fall out" report
has been published with the personal
authorization of the PreSident-and with his
earnest wish that the facts set forth, in
addition to showing how Americans can
protect themselves in case of possible attack,
will serve as sharp reminder OF the need
for effective arms control and for an en-
during peace in which the world could move
into bright new era with enterprises like
his plan to harness the atom for the good of
peoples everywhere.
But hope for the future is one thing,
and present-day realities are another. And
what we must reckon with right now, as
Mr. Strauss has said, is the fact that until
the possibility of an atomic attack against
us Is eliminated by workable international
plan for general disarmament, the study
and evaluation of the effects Of weapons
which might be used against us and the
improvement of our means Of self-defense
are paramount duty of our Government"
This statement, which plainly indicates that
our country intends to keep on staging ex-
perimental detonations not only in Nevada
but in the Pacific, may disturb those who
want such experimentation ended because
they fear that it has already done harm to
the germ cells of the human race. But the
Aces experts, although taking note Of dis
senting opinions. have asserted in the fall
out" report that all the tests to date-ours,
Russia's and Britain's-have caused only
very minute and thoroughly harmless in
crease In the total radiation received by
Americans and others.
This should be reassuring enough to
those whose misgivings have led them to
warn against further experimentation. In
any case however, In view Of what the Acc
has had to say on the subject, the testing
program must continue because 1t is Of vital
importance to our own and the free worlds
security. In short, although we must hope
and strive for the day when all nations can
safely forget about such things. the funda-
mental law of self-preservation meanwhile
demands that we spare no effort to stay
ahead In the atomic hydrogen race. The
"fall out" report leaves no room for doubt on
that score.