Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-22
London To|ks Were Productive
Although Goal Wasn't Reached

worth the trouble to fight so hard
against q simple suspension Of
tests, when we are already COM
mitted to accepting a ban If 1t is
linked to ban on future produc-
ton Of fashionable material.
One answer seems to be that We
are bound to work with the other
Western nations, that England
and France, just beginning to &C.
quire nuclear firepower, are UNI
willing to forego necessary pro-
cesses of development unless they
also know that the lead of the two
super-powerS will be held down.
Another answer is that until it
has assurances of fuller nuclear
disarmament, the United States
must keep far ahead in the nu.
clear arms race.
Production the Key?
United States experts are in
clined TO view the test suspension
issue as having far less Importance
to future world peace than a cut
OF Of all future production Of
fashionable materials for military
use. 1t has been pressing for an
immediate agreement along these
lines, under careful international
inspection. Along with this cut
on Of production, it proposes
transfers Of existing stocks Of rs
sionable material to non-weapons
purposes.
A test suspension combined with
a cessation Of future production
might face considerable opposi.
ton at home. Former Atomic
Energy Commissioner Thomas
Murray, now an advisor to the
Joint Congressional Committee on
Atomic Energy. for example. has
urged ban on big-bomb testing
and production, but feels that our
military needs an expanded pro-
gram for the development Of
smaller nuclear weapons. He would
oppose suspension of testing or
producing small atomic or hydro
gen weapons. His position might
have great weight with Democrats
in Congress.
Secretary Dulles has indicated
that, for him, the most important
part Of the disarmament program
would be program of mutual in
spection to prevent surprise at
tack. An atomic Pearl Harbor
could result in overnight oblitera-
ton of large areas. The Essen.
hover open skies" plan has been
refined and perfected into a series
of alternative proposals, intended
to establish an elaborate system
of air and ground observation IA
cilities. linked by a 'foolproof"
communication system, which
would. in effect. make it impos-
sible for either nation to launch
a surprise attack upon the other.
The Russians have thus far
shown very little interest in the
proposal, however. An exchange
of military intelligence has little
appeal to them because they
regard their carefully pre-
served secrecy as a most
precious asset. AS far as intelli.
gence about America is concerned,
1t must tax their resources to
translate and interpret the ma
terial already available from our
Government Printing ONCE, news
papers, magazines, technical ard
trade journals and maps. It re-
mains to be seen whether Mr..
Stassen will be able to convince
them that the additional ingre-
dent of accurate operational in.
telligence. not now available to
them will be worth the trade.
Unless an inspection plan is
adopted within the next three
years, it will probably become
obsolete, because the development
Of intercontinental ballistic mis-
siles will make possible q system
of underground launching sites
which could elude aerial in.
spection.
Convinced Of Progress
In spite Of all the obstacles to
immediate agreement, the United
States diplomats who sat through
the long afternoons in Lancaster
House are convinced that progress
has been made, that with the West
now in agreement progress with
Russia will be possible in future
sessions. They cite Mr.. zorin's
interest, his attentive behavior,
and his punctilious observance Of
diplomatic amenities, hitherto ig-
nored by the Russians, as signs
Of a Russian anxiety to elimi-
nate the threat Of a nuclear con-
flagration.
The fact that the Russians put
aside diplomacy for propaganda,
they regard as a passing phase.
inevitable during sessions Of the,
General Assembly. Propaganda
is merely one Of the many devices
of diplomacy--after the oratory
is over. hard negotiations viii be
resumed.
Unchanged through all phases,
however is the bland optimism Of
Harold Stassen. While his hope
fulness is the butt Of WISE
cracks at home, 1t has earned him
a good press abroad. His avoidance
Of determinations has helped to
create the image Of a "Mr. Dis
armament" which can be an
go. - 4, t',e NH~a0apda hattie.