Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-06

would unilaterally stop producing
nuclear weapons simply because
they had all they need. He made
no specific mention of suspending
tests.
But then Soviet ENJOYS in
various world capitals started
dropping strong hints that the
Kremlin intended to suspend tests
and production both. American
diplomats were never told directly
always through a third power.
But it was MoScow's clear inten-
ton to let the United States know
in advance it planned a new.
dramatic move in the nuclear dis
armament field.
Why the forewarning? One
theory is that Mr.. KhruShchev
hoped to draw the West-particu-
larly the United States-into some
rash counterproposal in anticipa-
ton. To many this is an unsatis-
factory explanation. At any rate.
the puzzlement was another rea-
son for the President to bide his
time.
If the United States or the
whole Western alliance had quick
ly announced a test suspension
after the coming Pacific series,
Mr.. Khrushchev might have made
good on his March IA speech. He
might have topped the West by
announcing a suspension Of nu-
clear-weapons production.
And the military has neither the
Investigation or the cleanliness in
miSsile-warheads it considers es-
sential. The United States could
not have gone along.
Rumors are heard that the So
Wet Union intends to suspend pro-
duction later. perhaps next fall.
Presumably that would give the
Kremlin enough time to produce
the weapons it tested in its nine
shot February-March series.
The Acc announced it had de-
tected nine nuclear explosions
from February % to late March.
Whether the United States de-
tected more and did not disclose
them is not Known. Nor is it
known, Of course, whether the So
Wet scientists might have done
some testing during the period
that was not detected. British
Prime Minister Macmillan has
said that it is possible to con-
duct tests that cannot be de-
tected.
How About the Allies?
The third difficulty in jumping
the gun on Moscow would have
come in co-ordinating any United
States move with Britain, France
and the other allies.
Secretary of State Dulles must
have been 95 per cent sure he
would get mo" answer from the
British and French on any pro-
posal that all the West quickly
announce a test suspension.
The British have conducted
some tests. but they want to.con-
duct others. They want to catch
up with the Big Two. Some of
their diplomats go farther. They
say the British may have some
nuclear weapons superior to the
United States or the Soviet
Unions. and want to consolidate
their advantage.
France has not yet tested a
nuclear weapon, but is expected
to do so before long. She wants
first to join the nuclear club. then
catch up. before she can possibly
agree to a suspension Of nuclear
tests that is not linked to a re-
duction of the nuclear Big Three's
stockpiles.
President Eisenhower may yet
have to decide whether to 60 it
alone on a test suspension, II he
fnds 1t would be desirable to meet
the Soviet test suspension with
some counterproposal.
Diplomatic sources here believe
that the issue presented at this
weeks National Security Council
meeting will be something like
this:
Should the United States now
agree to join the Soviet Union
in suspending all nuclear-weapons
tests If the Kremlin agrees to an
effective method Of inspection?
II this were done and Americas
allies approved. this would involve
some military sacrifice by the
United States. Britain and
France. But some officials here
believe the Soviet Union would
suffer. too.
The Soviet Union could not
resume testing of the dirty"
detachable weapons without admit
ting its March 81 announcement
was a hoax. And If 1t went
through with a suitable Soviet
Union-based detection system, the
first step toward the detailed in
spection network required to stop
nuclear-weapons production would
have been taken.
In other words, last Mondays
Soviet move could turn out to
have been a turning point toward
peace whether or not Krushchev