Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-18
Eisenhower
Names Panel
For Analysis

StasSen. the Presidents special
assistant on disarmament, an
nounced today.
Mr. Stassen told a news con-
ference the group of military,
nuclear and economic experts
will be called into session here
May 20 and will also review Mr..
StaSsen's seven weeks of dis
armament negotiations with
Russia and other countries in
London recently.
Presumably the group would
also plan any move the United
States might make in response
to the Russian announcement
that, by next May l, the Soviet
military forces will be reduced
by IL million men.
Eight to Have Aides
The eight panel members,
who will have aides working with
them. and the special subjects
of each are:
DR.. Ernest o. Lawrence. nu-
clear; Gen. James H. Doolittle,
air; Gen. Walter Bedell Smith.
Army; Admiral Oswald S. Col
clough, Navy; BENJAMIN Fair
less, steel; Walker L. Cisler.
power and industry; DR.. Harold
Moulton. military budgets. and
DR.. James B. Fisk, communica-
tionS.
The task forces we're set up
by the President beginning last
July.
Mr.. Stassen said the Soviet
announcement indicates a wish
on their part to continue serious
negotiation in an endeavor to
meet comprehensive agreements
on control of armament"
He confirmed published re-
ports that he first heard about
the planned arms cut announce
ment at a dinner party meeting
in London April IA with Soviet
leaders Khrushchev and Bull
ganin. He said the move then
apparently was 4only in the
thinking stage.
Decision Made Later
ut would appear the actual
decision j.. +. was made after the
London talks" he said. 1t could
be said, therefore, he added, that
the disarmament talks in London
contributed to the Russian deci-
sion.
The Russian announcement
was made last Monday.
Mr. StaSsen pointed out that
the announcement listed not
only the manpower reduced but
also military equipment and the
military budget cuts.
Since manpower is still one
measurement of military
strength, he said. this country
can take some comfort if the cut
actually is carried out.
Il do consider" he said, that
the announcements carried
out-will constitute a desirable
dividend for President Eisen-
hower's persistent policy Of
charting a course for world
peace in the hydrogen bomb
age"
Other Factors Involved
Possible factors in the Russian
announcement, he said, were
these:
Manpower needs in civilian in
dustry, the current Soviet con-
centratlon on new, efficient
weapons development, the low
Russian birth rate in the late
3Os and early 40s, the propa-
ganda value of a military cut
back and their growing convic-
ton that the United States has
no warlike intent.
Mr.. Stassen pointed out that
the real significance of the an
nouncement could not be as
sessed, since there is no way to
be sure the reduction will take
place. He said this country has
some fairly reliable intelligence
reports" that last years promise
to cut the Soviet army by $780,
600 men was carried out to some
extent.
Asked if this country would
consider a ban on testing nu-
clear weapons or long-range bal
listics missiles, Mr.. Stassen said
we would accept such a ban
only as a part of comprehen-
sive disarmament program.
Mr. Stassen said he has been
falsely accused of being IAN OPP
timist" on disarmament. I'm
a constructive realist," he said.
Il look at it carefully and then
try to do something about it"