Evening star., 1961-10-18

Ills oCi III Sbdltus
Dismay was widespread at
his announcement that in less
than two weeks the Russians
will explode 50-megaton hy-
drogen bomb, the biggest man.
made bang the world has ever
known.
Lord Home Hits Deception
Lord Home, Britain's Foreign
Secretary, accused Mr.. Khrush-
chev of deceiving the world and
the Russian people themselves
by resuming nuclear weapons
tests.
A West German government
spokesman in Bonn said Mr..
Khrushchev's decision to ex-
plode the 50-megaton bomb
was "an irresponsible act to-
ward the welfare of humanity"
A Foreign Ministry spokes-
man in Paris declined immedi-
ate comment, saying this is
too serious. too grave a matter"
to discuss publicly on the basis
of press summaries Of the
Premier's speech.
Lord Home lashed out at Mr..
KhruShchev in an address to
the House Of Lords. Until this
morning. when Mr.. Khrushchev
said he was about to explode a
very large nuclear bomb, the
Russian people knew not one
word from their government
that it had restarted nuclear
tests" Lord Home said. so,
not only were the CWestern)
negotiators duped and the
world misled. but the Russian
people themselves were de-
ceived." he said.
Treaty Delay Welcomed
But Lord Home said he was
encouraged over Mr.. Khru-
shchev's offer to delay signing
a peace treaty with East Ger
many.
The atmosphere OF ultima
tum, If we are to take his word
for 1t, as we must, has been
removed. This is some gain" "
the Foreign Secretary said
but there is another aspect we
should be wise to explore. We
are not yet certain whether
when we talk Of a free city
CBerlin) with uninterrupted
access, we mean the same thing
as the Russians mean"
British newspaper exhibited
more concern at the prospect
OF the massive Russian nuclear
blast than relief over the pos
sible delay in a Berlin show
down.
There is no supreme military
advantage to be gained in
touching off so large a bomb. .
said the Times of London. The
purpose behind the announce
ment is largely political. It Is
meant to fill the Western peo-
Piles with fears of what NAV
happen unless their govern
ments concede points to the
Russians over Berlin"
Arms Race Aspects Noted
The Manchester Guardian
said Russia's plan to explode
the superbomb has destroyed
the prospect Of freezing wea
pons development and so limit
ing the arms race. 1t has also
destroyed the attempt to start
q pilot scheme for international
control over disarmament. II
has added TO the pollution OF
the earth's atmosphere with
new radiation. And it has
brought Russia neither extra
influence nor greater security. -
The Guardian felt Mr.. Khru-
| shchey was more constructive
on Berlin and Germany, but
cautioned he had said nothing
to suggest that he is depart
ing at all from his insistence
that Eastern Germany must be-
fore long teven If not this year,
control access to Berlin and
that II must become a free city
free in his sense. which hith-
erto has meant the removal OF
Western garrisons as such,)'
The conservative Daily Mail
said Mr., Khrushchev has not
budged an inch" on the future
status of Berlin.
Back at His Old Game"
On Berlin, said the Lab
orite Daily Herald. Mr.. Khrtl-
shchev spoke with modera.
ton and hope" but when he
spoke about his new bomb he
was back at his old game Of
trying to make our flesh creep
The Herald added:
1T would be a courageous
and not a cowardly act il
President Kennedy refused tc
resume atmosphere tests and
called on Mr.. Khrushchev to dc
the same"
Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Ex-
press viewed the speech through
oSe-colored glasses, calling Il
IAN important and welcome
contribution to maintaining
peace"
BY postponing the signinl
of a treaty with East Germany
the Russian leader shows hi
willingness to negotiate" saic
the Express. "He also shows
courage, For it is not easy fol
a man in supreme power to re-
tire from a position he ha
taken up. Yet that is wha
Khrushchev had DONE"
Is Nothing Good Seen
The West German spokes'
man in Bonn said the German
section of Mr. Khrushchev'
speech contained few new ele
ments and I'VE have every rea
son to accept his speech will
great reserve"