Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-31
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Some Nogging Doubts About Test-Bon Treaty

the treaty. I use the term,
pacifist sentimentality, to
characterize the attitude of
mind which assumes that
our will to peace will be met
with an answering will to
peace on the part Of the
Russian and Chinese Com
munists when in fact they
have never renowned their
intention to bury" US and
are simply quarreling among
themselves as to the best
and speediest method Of &C
eomplishing this end.
Since so many Of our mill
tary officials have stated that
the treaty carries military
risks for the United States
but that they are indorsing
the treaty because Of its poll
tical advantages - in other
words, because it is felt to be
a first step towards peace
and the end of the nuclear
arms race-it behooves us to
ask ourselves whether the
hope for genuine peace be-
tween ourselves and Russia
coming about as a result Of
the treaty rests on anything
more than our sentimental
aspiration for peace.
To counter the fears of
Senators that the treaty may
endanger American nuclear
superiority, the Pentagon has
announced a vast new "nu-
clear readiness" program
which will whip our weapons
testing apparatus into instant
readiness for the eventuality
that Russia should breach
the treaty. Included in the
program is a broadening of
current underground testing
Ito include as many tests as
are feasible to replace atmos-
pheric testing" The an
nouncement Of this pro-
gram, and particularly Of the
broadening of underground
testing, serves to demolish
the second basic argument
for the treaty, namely, that
1t will lead to a slowing down
and ultimate cessation of the
nuclear arms race.
For If we are going to whip
our weapons testing appara-
tus into instant readiness Cby
preparing the preliminary re-
search that has to take place
prior to actual tests) and if
we are going to increase I'M
foreground testing to the
maximum feasible, we can be
sure that Russia is going to
do the same things. It Is Diff
ficult to see how the nuclear
arms race can slow down un-
der such a procedure. 1t is
instead likely to accelerate as
each side seeks to protect It
self against cheating by the
other side, and as each side
seeks to take maximum adj
vantage Of the practices per-
mitted by the treaty.
President Kennedy has
quoted a Chinese proverb in
support Of the treaty-to wit,
that In order to undertake a
Journey Of a thousand miles
one must take the first step.
But IN view Of the disturb
ing implications Of the cited
facts 1t seems more relevant
to quote an old Italian pro-
verb, which says, God pro-
tect me from my friends -
from my enemies I can pro-
tect myself" I can imagine
the Angel Of Peace in heaven
reciting this proverb as she
listens to the debates on the
nuclear test ban treaty.
BENJAMIN Ginzburg.
y
DR.. Albert Schweitzer, a
famous and revered man, has
aligned himself with those
who support the test ban
treaty. He has described the
treaty as "a ray Of light" in
humanity's darkness and said
that, through 1t, "the world
has taken the first step on
the road leading to peace"
These are, Of course, salts
Tying and soothing words
and since they have been ut
tered by this eminent hui
manitarian. they will do
much TO influence the minds
OF many Americans.
But just what kind Of hui
manitarianism is DR.. Schweit-
ger talking about? Is he talk
ing about what might be in
the future or is he directing
his thoughts to the provable
realities Of the present day?
Obviously not the latter, or
he would-in all his wisdom
- have had to attack the
very act Of the great and free
and powerful United States
entering into this agreement
with the evil men Of the So