Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-03
NUCLEAR
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OOnClnucu FROM rage Al
much-publicized 100-megaton
bomb"
Premier Khrushchev ex-
planned last fall his weapons
testers decided not to explode
a 100-megaton weapon because
I'VE might break our own win
dows." From the Presidents
disclosures it was clear Russia
had sent a rocket to the 100
mile height, and thereby proved
Soviet warheads could with
stand the shock and stress of
launch. No known Soviet or
American aircraft can fly that
high.
mo single decision of this
administration has been more
thoroughly or more thought
fully weighed" Mr.. Kennedy
told the Nation in explaining
his decision to resume at
mospheric testing.
The test will begin in the lat
ter part of April, he said, and
are to be concluded as quickly
as possible, within two or three
months.
Only those experim n S
which cannot be conducted un-
derground will be held in the
atmosphere, the President as
sured the world. These would
be exploded over the Pacific
Ocean, he said.
Last falls Soviet test series
was more than mere "intimi-
dalton and bluff" the Presi-
dent said. I'm fact, they also
reflected a highly sophisticated
technology, the trial of novel
designs and techniques and
some substantial gains in weap-
onry."
Russia had three principal
goals in it's test series, Mr..
Kennedy reported - improving
their defenses against missiles,
proof-testing weapons systems
and developing new weapons,
particularly those of greater
explosive power.
One primary purpose" Of
the development phase, Mr..
Kennedy said, was to increase
the power per pound Of Soviet
nuclear warheads.
There is no avoiding the
fact" the President commented,
that other Soviet tests in the
one to five-megaton range and
up, were aimed at unleashing
increased destructive power in
warheads actually capable of
delivery by existing missiles.
IeSte0 AntI-MlSSlIeS
Some of the Soviet shots
were aimed at developing an
anti-missile missile, but they
did not in our judgment reflect
a developed system" of anti
missile defense, the President
said.
The Soviet testing teams also
studied the interference with
radar and communication pro-
duced by nuclear blasts which
is important in developing an
anti-misSile defense system, ="
the President said.
Although Russia did not gain
superiority over the United
States in nuclear power from
the tests the President esti-
mated, further Soviet tests were
the United States to stand still,
could we'll provide the Soviet
Union with a nuclear attack
and defense capability so
powerful as to encourage ag-
greSsive designs"
The United States wants to
explore the same three areas
the Soviet Union did last fall
proof testing existing systems,
determining the effects an
enemy nuclear explosion would
have upon the. United States
ability to survive and respond,
and development of more ad-
vanced, more efficient weapons.
To Propose New Measures
Mr.. Kennedy said he hoped
American resumption would
'>-'''g pressure on the Soviet
Union to accept disarmament
measures in the knowledge that
United States arms develop
ment is no longer at a stand
still.
The President said the United
States would propose a series
of general disarmament meas
ures at the March ii opening