Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-22

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allied subjects.
which consists Of the five powers
principally concerned: The United
States, Russia, Canada, France
and the United Kingdom. Each
stage has a function in the deli
cate negotiations over the most
sensitive subject in the world.
At the moment the Soviet Union
is placing all Of its eggs in the
ban nuclear tests" basket. This
is a shrewd maneuver. 1t is mott
waited entirely by an acute sense
of Russian interest. But Russian
emphasis on this single note is by
no means a clear-cut indication of
permanent unwillingness to nego-
tiate broader issues.
A NotuToI for Russio
The test ban platform is a
natural for Russia for several
reasons. In attacking tests, Rus
STA is stigmatizing nuclear weap-
ons generally. Even though the
Russians have acquired a powerful
nuclear capability, Russia today,
as in 1947, wants to minimize
nuclear weapons.
For If there were no nuclear
weapons. Russia would be the
worlds top military power, and
could overrun Europe at will. So
long as the West relies upon the
nuclear deterrent. and converts
both its offense and its defense
to nuclear weaponry. Russia would
like to attach to that arsenal a
badge Of shame, both for propa-
ganda purposes and also to foster
inhibitions on its use. These
inhibitions were already revealed
In Korea and elsewhere.
In addition. the test ban idea is
popular, in the East, in the West,
and in neutral countries. Fallout
from tests is not a vague posi-
bility like war--it is here. Experts
differ as to how much harm it
causes, but all admit that some
injury to man and his flora and
fauna does result.
Russia Is naturally delighted tn
exploit so popular and concrete
an issue, particularly at a time
when Picasso's dove is soiled with
Hungarian blood. Indeed. one
acute and knowledgeable observer
Of Russian affairs says that test
ban would actually work against
RuSsias interest-because Russia
is at the moment behind us in
nuclear technology and needs tests
TO catch up. According to him
Russia wants the issue more than
1t wants the ban, and, confident
OF American opposition, is making
the same kind Of gamble our State
Department made when it invited
Russia and her satellites to join
in the Marshall Plan.
A Positive Stond
The United States has moved
from a negative position on tests
to a positive one: We now support
test ban, but we insist that it
be joined to a ban on the produce
ton Of fashionable material. We
offer a two year cessation of nu-
clear tests that will begin when
the agreement is signed, and win
last for two years. But during
those two years we insist that in
spection machinery be set I'D to
make sure the bans on tests and
on production Of fashionable ma.
terial are actually working. We
allow IL months to get this
machinery started-if a good be-
ginning is not made in the first
IL months, the parties are free
to call the deal off.
This is by no means a negative
position. If anything, 1t is more
thoroughgoing than the Soviet
offer. But 1t lacks the simplicity
and clarity of the seven-letter
slogan with which the Russians
hope to win friends all over the
world: Ban Tests"
The Soviets. smarting under
the worlds condemnation for
brutal atrocities in the satellites,
dangerous Responsibilities in the
Middle East, and political canni-
balism at home. are counting on
this short and definite phrase to
win friends. Accordingly, Mr..
zorin called q halt TO the private
talks in the subcommittee in order
to take this one issue to the jury
the jury, in this case. being the
u. N. General Assembly.
Although the Assembly can do
no more than express opinion, a
defeat In the General Assembly
on this issue would be a ire
mendous blow to American
prestige. The United States mis-
sion to the United Nations is
getting ready for a rough and
tumble battle for votes, but 1t is
confident that 1t can hold a reso-
luton favoring a test ban down
to a maximum Of q votes. There
are 81 votes in the General
Assembly, and two-thirds are
necessary for passage.
Blocking passage OF a no-tests
resolution means expanding q
great deal Of effort and mourning
a great many new and perhaps ex-
pensive obligations.
Nanv exnertgae-e ss',i'-~ ~ - g.