Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-29

viva me. Az Wlrepn(
is misleading in implying that
we must necessarily continue to
explode nuclear weapons in or
der to maintain our superiority
in those weapons. To the extent
the United States, by agreeing
to stop large H-bomb explosions,
would affect its progress in the
development of nuclear weapons.
the Soviet Union would also affect
its own progress. To the extent
that the Soviet Union could con-
Itinue the research and develop
ment of all such weapons short
of testing. the United States
would also continue such re-
search and development. To the
extent that we have Superiority
or as it is expressed elsewhere
in the Presidents statement. a
commanding lead"-we would
safeguard that superiority, that
lead, by reducing the chances of
a Russian technical break
Through that might assist them
to close the gap.
/ repeat again that an agree
ment to end explosions of large
H-bombS should not apply to the
testing of smaller nuclear weap-
ons; the United States, as well as
other powers. would be free to
60 forward with such tests.
FallOut Data Disputed
! Presidents memorandum
-Four: The continuance of the
present rate of H-bomb testing
by the most sober and respon-
sible scientific judgment-does
not imperil the health of hui
mainly On the amount OF
radioactive fallout, including
strontium-90, resulting from
tests, the most authoritative
Judgment is that of the indie
pendent National Academy OF
sciences. 1t reported last June,
following a study of $50 scien-
lists of the first rank, that the
radiation exposures from all
weapons tests to date - and
from continuing tests at the
same rate-is, and would be,
only small fraction of the ex-
posture that individuals receive
from natural sources and from
medical X-rays during their
lives"
Many outstanding scientists
vigorously disagree. Scientists
emphasize that no one knows
with certainty whether the pres
ent rate of H-bomb testing will
or will not produce significant
damage to millions of people
alive today. This is true espe-
cially Of children; as they ma
ture, the calcium that goes into
building up their bones will be
contaminated with the fallout
Iof strontium-90 from H-bomh
tests.
I On this subject, the National
Academy of Sciences reported
lin June 1856: g. How much
radiation will produce a given
result, how much can be done
to counterfeit the deleterious eff
fects, these are largely un-
solved problems"
! Murray Quoted
Thomas E. Murray, a member
Iof the Atomic Energy Commits
sion, has stated: I'VE know that
there is a limit to the amount
of this strontium that the hu.
man body can absorb without
harmful effects. Beyond thai
limit, danger lies, and ever
death.
The problem has been to fl
the limit. 1t is still an unsolvec
problem"
The international Commission
on Pathological Protection anc
the British Medical Council
warn that the danger level fol
radioactive strontium should bt
set not at the level used by the
Atomic Energy Commission but
at one-tenth that level.
Obviously, the Presidents
statement greatly exaggerate'
the degree Of certainty that i;
possible on the basis Of present
scientific knowledge. In addition
in relating its comments to the
present rate of H-bomb testing
liz gives wholly false picture Of
the dangers from strontium- sc
fallout. The report Of the Ma
tional Academy's Committee or
Pathological Effects Of Atomic
Radiation. which is the basis fol
the National Academy's com,
ments on this subject, was pre-.
pared in January of this veal
and it's findings are already out
of date. Since that time thu
nuclear monopoly enjoyed BY
the United States and the Sovie
Union is now shared with the
United Kingdom-and. as ha!
been earlier pointed out, Their,
lis every prospect that within I
relatively short time other ma.
tons will be producing nucleai
weapons.
SaturatiOn Point Claimed
The Federation OF American
Scientists Radiation HazarC
Committee declared on October
rs, Certain areas Of the worlC
may have already passed tn,
danger point in strontium- 81
saturation." The committed
said Atomic Energy Commits
sioner Willard F. Libby, officia
Acc spokesman on fallout haz.
ards. has been very optimistic
in his estimates OF the DANCE
TO mankind from radioactive,
fsliout.
On Thursday Of last week