Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-11
1t Should Be Limited

no PdAb VI EAOJCCJ EIOWolldIC, WHICH
seeks to determine how nuclear explo-
sives can be used for peaceful purposes,
the Atomic Energy Commission now has
committed itself to an undertaking of
great potential significance In its own
way, it Is an undertaking that explains
why some of our best authorities have
certain reservations regarding the test
ing ban that American, Soviet and other
technical experts are likely to start dis
cussing soon at special conference in
Geneva.
The undertaking, as announced by
Acc Chairman Strauss, will begin with
field studies to ascertain whether it is
feasible or not. If the studies show that
1t can be carried out without appreci-
able danger to fish, wildlife and human
beings, then in 1960-in the presence of
witnesses invited from the Soviet Union
and other countries-the United States
probably will set off "nuclear dynamite"
to bring into being big new harbor in
Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. The
area, between Cape Seppings and Cape
Thompson, then will have what it sorely
needs to exploit large-scale mineral de-
posits which up to now have been of
little value because of the lack of ada
cent port facilities.
This is a dramatic illustration of
the beneficent possibilities of nuclear
explosions. They are possibilities that
include the following: ~ The freeing
of vast sources of oil now trapped in
certain rock formations; (2) the acqui-
Sition of new mineral supplies; (3) the
creation of great subterranean reSer-
voirS of water; and az the production
of power through the control of heat
unleaShed by underground atomic or
hydrogen detonationS. 1t is because of
these and similar potentials that Scien-
tif1c experts like the Aces DR.. Willard
F. Libby, while favoring ban on A and
H military testing, would place strict
limits on the character and scope of
such ban. Thus, as DR.. Libby declared
last March to Senate subcommittee:
You see, as people develop nuclear
technology, we realize there is so much
to be learned by further tests that there
is a great danger that we will be losing
a great deal, and the human race would
be losing a great DEAL If it is fatty
agreed that work in this direction is to
be stopped. Therefore. hope that
whatever the agreements be. the nom
military use of nuclear explosions would
be carried on under the disarmament
o. authority or whatever body was control
ling it 1.-THE testing banl. . I really
believe that the nonmilitary applications
of atomic explosions, nuclear explosions,
are going to be of great benefit to man
kind. &. think it would be extremely
unwise of the world to forever ban all
nuclear explosions.
This is point of view that can
hardly fail to enter the thinking of
those experts who will take part-if
Premier KhruShchev replies aff1rma-
lively to President EisenhowerS latest
letter on the Subject-in the Geneva
technical meeting Indeed, as Dr. Libby
and others of like mind have indicated,
there are numerous considerations
practical ones and abstractly intellec-
tual and philosophical ones-that cast
grave doubt on the wisdom of total
ban on testing.
After all, such a ban would place an
unprecedented restraint on the human
mind and its hunger for new knowledge.
And by the same token land with this
the Russians themselves may we'll agree)
it could initiate against mankind's
progress. 1t should be limited accord
ingly.