Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-09
One Fact Above All


doned if he feels more confused than
enlightened by the testimony in recent
days about the dangers inherent in fall
out from experimental nuclear explo-
Sions. For this testimony, which has been
submitted to subcommittee of the Joint
Congressional Atomic Committee by
scientists and experts with varying de-
grees of ability, has made only one thing
clear-namely, that the subject involved
here raises questions which nobody can
answer with any certainty.
OF course, as the subcommittee has
learned, all the testifiers are agreed on
genetic and kindred hazards of one sort
or another, actual or potential, in what
comes out of the awe inspiring mush-
room clouds that follow the test detona-
tons of f1ssion and fusion weapons. Be-
yond that, however, there is nothing but
disagreement, nothing but a wide dis
parity of views and judgments as to the
degrees and the immediacy of the danger.
On the one hand, for example, we have
distinguished geneticists like DR.. Her.
mann Muller declaring that the fallout
dnCdQy W a BAdNC lnCIldCC ia
terms of its effect on future generations.
On the other hand, with the strong back
ing of continuing authoritative studies,
men like DR.. willard F. Libby of the
Atomic Energy Commission emphatically
reaSsure us that the experimental ex-
ploSionS, though they entail some rela-
lively minor risk, are very definitely not
releasing a perilouS amount Of radio
activity at the current rate Of testing.
In these circumstances, with the doc
tors sharply disagreeing among them
selves, what is a layman to think? How
are most Of us, the great mass of people,
to Judge which side is right and which
wrong? Perhaps there is reasonably
sound rule of thumb that we can follow.
In the first place, we can keep in mind
the fact that many of the Cassandras in
this field are persons whose knowledge
ability is not necessarily as great as their
articulateneSS. Further, even when it
comes to learned men as genuinely out
standing as DR.. Muller, we may find it
useful to remember that geneticS Is still
an inexact science involving a large
measure Of sheer guesswork and abstract
theorizing And finally, to hold the issue
in focus and perspective, we could do
worse than remind ourselves that the
Acc, in concert with the National Acad-
envy of Sciences, has been continuously
studying the fallout problem with the
utmost thoroughneSs - far more thor
oughly than any other American indi-
vidual or group could possibly do-and
that its findings are not less reassuring
than DR.. Libby says.
Above all, as part of our rule Of
thumb in relation to this matter, we GER
tainly ought to give very sober thought to
DR.. Libby's latest statement. In sub
stance, this statement says that our
country-for the sake of its own sur
vival and that of the free world-must
go forward with its testing to develop
missiles with nuclear warheadS for de-
Tense against air attack and for other
security purposes. AS Dr. Libby has
warned, any cessation of such testing
before a comprehensive arms control
agreement effectively insuring against
Soviet treachery-might tend to disarm
us unilaterally and thus lead to a war
that could mean the death of our Nation
as we know it. Accordingly, If there Is
certain long-range risk in fallout from
such detonations as those We stage in
Nevada and the Eniwetok area, it is a
risk that must be taken, for it is so much
smaller than the risk We would be taking
otherwise.
We are faced with the terrible in
escapable reality of atomic hydrogen
weapons, and must realize that the test
Ing Of them-a testing whose fallout is
actually far less dangerous than what
could come of an uncontrolled or made
quately safeguarded international mush-
rooming Of peaceful A-power projects
will be essential to our survival as long
as real disarmament is lacking This is
the one fact, above all Others that should
govern our judgment as we try to figure
out the meaning of the befuddling testi-
mony we have heard within the past
week.