Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-25
Continued From First Page

nlgn priority Items 1Or I'M
mediate national attention:
/. The question of Strategtlc
Air Command preparedness.
2. The feasibility Of acceler-
ating and expanding the mis-
eiles program.
3. The problem of civil. de-
Tense and what needs to be
done to put the United States
in a position to reconstruct it.
self If hit"
4. Faster production Of nu-
clear powered submarines.
S. An immediate start on a
''real long-range program" Of
better scientific education.
DR.. Teller emphasized that
his priority list was not ar
ranged in order Of Importance.
He told the committee he
thought all five projects would
be carried on at the same time.
Il don't think they conflict, "
he said.
Senator Johnson. Democrat
Of Texas, said in opening the
inquiry that the United States
has ''lost an important battle
in technology" to- Russia.
But the chairman Of the sub
committee said the "lost battle
represented by Russia's launch
ing of two satellites is mot a
defeat-it is a challenge"
Senator johnson said the
subcommittee believes the peo-
pie should be informed fully of
the military situation which
faces the United States.
Noting that subcommittee
members had been briefed con-
f1dentially on developments,
Senator johnson said:
Il have found no cause for
comfort in the information we
have been given. We do not
feel that this information must
be withheld from the public.
1--WE have lost an important
battle in technology to Russia.
That is self-evident in the two
Sputniks that are in space.
But a lost battle is not a defeat,
1t is a challenge for America
to respond with her best eff
forts.
Says Time Is Short
There were no Republicans
and no Democrats after Pearl
Harbor. There were no isola-
tionists. There were no de-
featists of any stripe.
II do not feel that we have
as much time as we had after
Pearl Harbor. But we do have
time, determination and will
power to accomplish what we
must. I don't believe it is time
for either a siesta or for hys-
terra"
Mr.. Weisl asked DR.. Teller
what things the Russians would
need-in addition to the things
they manifestly have in Sput-
mix Ito make an accurate
missile.
DR.. Teller replied that the
things they need they may all
ready have, but he said they
would also need a better guild
apce system and a re-entry
system. q
Notes Delay on Warhead
Mr.. Weisl asked the scien-
fist:
why are we behind the
Russians?"
DR.. Teller said there was a
specific reason and a general
reason.
The specific reason I have
already tried to indicate" he
said. I'VE did not embark on
a realistic program until we had
q warhead."
The general reason. he en-
phasized, was that "the Rus
slams are willing to take greater
CANDLES than we."
A basic shorteoming of
American developmental TECH
niques, DR.. Teller said, is this:
Substantial sums of money
are not available (for research)
unless we can prove in black
and white that it will work.
Sees More Funds Needed
Asked what the United States
now could do. DR.. Teller warned
against embarking ION a rapid
reorganization of our effort"
Emphasizing his opinion that
the effort of the United States
IN the missile field has been
good and well managed as far
as it has gone. DR.. Teller called
for greater governmental gen.
crosby with research and de-
velopment money.
DR.. Teller also vigorously
backed plans to increase CO.
operation among Western allies
by lowering the barriers against
exchange of secret information.
Even If allied cooperation
loses some of the Vests Sc
crets. it would produce secrets
faster" he said. He said speed
is more important in the cur
rent emergency than secrecy.
DR.. Teller said scientists in
allied countries doubtless are
ahead Of the United States in
some fields, so their aid would
be helpful.
He scoffed the idea that "the
Russians caught up with us
because they stole our secrets. "
Warns on Retaliation
Speaking vehemently. he
warned that the United States
must be prepared TO strike
back if we are hit" This re-
taliatory power, he said. re-
quires strengthening the Stra-
tegic Air Command. keeping it
alert, and dispensing bases so
that even a surprise attack by
the Russians would not knock
out Western power.