Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-25
The H-Bomb Reply


lively at the basic assumptions under
lying Adlai StevenSon'S proposal for
disseminating tests Of this weapon.
1t is not statement which PROBES
that one man is right and the other
wrong. The argument falls too much
into the realm Of opinion for that. But
1t Is statement which, in our Judgment,
will have persuasive influence on the
minds of those who are not already
committed on this question.
Mr.. Stevenson does not always state
his proposal in the same language. It is
fuzzy in some particulars. But it may be
summarized as follows: He urges that
the United States take the initiative in
securing an agreement with other ma
tons under which H-bomb tests would
be stopped. He says that the peace and
health of the world would be advanced
If this were done. And he also says that
it could be done safely, without weaken
ing the relative military position of the
United States, because violation of the
agreement by any other nation which
might test big bomb could readily be
detected. In such event, Mr. Stevenson
has said, we could resume our own tests
within eight weeks.
The President disagrees on virtually
all counts. First he reviewed the efforts
of this Government to solve the fearful
atomic dilemma" But he stressed the
point that "the indispensable principle
upon which we have insisted has been
the securing of effective safeguards and
controls in any program of disarma-
ment" He added that there is only one
reason why no safe agreement has been
reached-"the refusal of the Soviet Union
to accept any dependable system of
mutual safeguards"
Coming down more specifically to
the issue, Mr.. Eisenhower made these
points:
l. The power of our most advanced
nuclear weapons to deter aggression and
guard world peace could be lost if we
failed to hold our superiority in these
weapons.
2. The continuance of the present
rate of H-bomb testing-by the most
sober and responsible scientific judgment
does not imperil the health of
humanity.
3. In fact, continuance of this testing
is having two beneficial results: (a) The
most recent tests enable us to harness
and discipline our weaponS-drasticall
reducing their fallout, and (b) these
same recent tests have helped us to
develop, not primarily weapons for vaSter
destruction, but weapons for defense of
our people against any possible enemy
attack, as we'll as knowledge vital to our
whole program of civil defense.
4. A simple agreement to stop H
matically self-enforcing on the unverified
assumption that such tests can instantly
and surely be detected.
5. If this Government were to SuS-
pend its tests, while continuing precau-
tionary research and preparation-if
that were feaSible-we could suffer
serious military disadvantage if Russia
should violate the agreement. 1t takes
a year or more mot eight weeks) to
organize and effect such tests as those
conducted at our proving grounds in the
Pacific Ocean,
From these premises, the President
concluded that we must continue to
develop our strength in the most adj
vanced weapons until properly safe
guarded international agreements can be
reached. And 1--WE husband shall
continue to strive ceaselessly to achieve,
not the Illusion, but the reality of world
disarmament. Illusion, in this case, can
assume either of two forms. 1t can mean
reliance upon agreements without safe
guards. Or it can be the suggestion that
simple suspension of our nuclear tests,
without sure knowledge of the actions
of others, signifies progress-rather than
peril"
These arguments in their totality hit
powerfully at Mr.. Stevenson and his pro-
posals. The next move is up to him. 1t
is our belief, however, that he is going
to lose this debate, as far as public
opinion is concerned, unless he can DEM
onstrate that there are significant falla-
cies in the points made by the President.