Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-23
BY EARL H. VOSS
star stan Writer


far as to declare q unilateral
discrimination of nuclear-
weapons manufacture.
American officials confirmed
that such rumors have been
reported but they would not
say where the reports were
picked up. Moscow was one
likely place.
The possibility that Kremlin
officials themselves may have
planted the rumors was not
ruled out.
Some American officials said
last night they had foreseen
for some time the possibility
that the Soviet Union would
declare a unilateral cessation
of nuclear tests. Rumors to this
effect have been more recent
but'officials would not say when
they were first reported to
Washington.
Impact Seen Great
If the Soviet Union we're to
make a unilateral declaration
of either test or manufacture
ban the propaganda impact
around the world could be ire
mendous. Uncommitted nations
like India and allies like Japan
have been pleading with both
the United States and the So
, Wet Union to stop nuclear tests
and manufactures.
The quickened pace Of Soviet
nuclear-weapons tests height
ened interest in the sensational
rumorS.
The Atomic Energy Commits
sion has reported nine Soviet
nuclear weapons tests in the
past month"; marked stepup
in the usual schedule Of Soviet
testing, at least SO far as the
Acc reports would indicate.
The seventh and eighth explo-
sions were announced Friday
night and the ninth. yesterday.
Severe Setback
If the Soviet Union were to
complete its tests series quickly,
and declare the unilateral test
ban just before the United
States begins its April series
at Eniwetok, Washington could
expect another severe setback
in the psychological war with
the Soviet Union.
The damage to American
prestige could be as great, in q
different but at least in as
damaging a way as that caused
by the Soviet launching Of
Sputniks and II.
And the cost to the Soviet
Union. American officials
pointed out. would not be great
for two reasons. First, the So
Wet Union probably would not
be ready to test again for some
little time. The length Of the
initial test ban is usually set
at two to three years.
Second. there would be mol
international inspection system
to verify the unilateral Soviet |
declarations. t
American scientists now be-
lieve they could detect a good
share Of Soviet tests of nuclear
weapons beyond the small threeI
or four kiloton range. They
could record acoustic waves,
seismic waves, electromagnetic |
radiation and radioactivity from
most Of the tests, it is believed.
This information would be
accurate enough to give the
general location, size and time
Of the test.
Scientists Disagree
But there is disagreement
among American scientists on
this country's ability to detect
Soviet cheating" even if test
stations were set up inside the
Soviet Union.
Notification of any declared
stoppage of nuclear-weapons
production would not be posi-
Bile without elaborate inspec-
ton within the Soviet Union.
American officials draw a |
parallel with past Soviet
declarations Of cuts in the Red
armed forces. Reductions are
claimed to have totaled 1.8
million men over the past two
years.
There has been no way, how
ever. to verify the Soviet
claims.
Soviet Party Chief Nikita
Khrushchev has mentioned his
interest in "unilateral disarm-
ament" on at least two recent
occasions. In his January 81
interview with the London
Times foreign editor, Mr..
Khrushchev said:
Naturally, there will at first
be no agreement on complete
disarmament. But I imagine
that the trend toward uni
lateral disarmament could be
strengthened because when
people realize that the danger
Of war has passed them the
states possessing larger armed
forces will strive to reduce
them to release manpower and
vast material resources to de-
velop their economy to prove
the advantage of this and that
state system in peaceful COM
petition, in the competition to
raise living standards in their
countries.
"Very Good Road"
This is a very good road
without blood and fear for the
people"
The reference to releasing
manpower and resources to de-
velop the economy could refer
to the American recession as
we'll as Soviet economic aspira-
tons.