The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-09-20

S. nuclear scientists have cor
firmed that three explosions de-
tected in the Soviet Union in
June and July are definitely nu-
clear tests in the atmosphere.
Their analysis Of radioactive
debris recovered from the blasts
supports earlier acoustic. or
sound, signals from the explo-
sionS that resembled those from
other nuclear shots.
U. S. air patrols, watching
closely for radioactive clouds,
collected the tell-tale debris but
in amounts considerably small
err than those recovered from
previous Soviet tests.
This new finding, along with
other intelligence data, has con
WINGED these scientists that the
Russians tested a new type of
clean" apon, probably
warhead for their anti-missile
missile, in these unannounced
experiments.
The size and exact location
for the explosions have been cal
culated but this sensitive infor-
nation cannot be published,
since the details would give the
Russians information on our de-
lection methods.
Although the Atomic Energy
Commission is withholding it S
announcement of these findings,
the explosive information is now
in the hands of Senators who
plan to reveal the startling news
before the Senate votes to ratify
the nuclear test ban treaty later
this week.
What effect this disclosure of
secret Soviet nuclear testing will
have on the final Senate vote is
conjectural. The best guess is
that it will swing a few of the
"uncommitted senator's against
the treaty, but not block ratlfl-
cation.
THE INSIDE STORY - The
first public disclosure that the
U. S. had detected an explosion
in the Soviet Union that looked
suspiciously like a nuclear test
was published by the Washing
ton Star on June 30.
The newspapers information
came from a highly reliable
government official who W S
deeply disturbed over a White
House order suppressing the in
formation SO as not to upset the
test ban negotiations which So
Wet Premier Khrushchev h d
just secretly agreed to.
After the story appeared, the
Atomic Energy Commission con-
firmed that an explosion in Rus
STA had been detected, but their
terse announcement doWngraded
the discovery by claiming that
there was no evidence to pin
point the blast as being a nu-
clear explosion
Two Of the three explosions
recorded by u S. detection in
struments occurred on June u,
Just two days after President
Kennedy gave his American Uni
versity speech stating that the
U. S. would not test again in
the atmosphere SO long as Rus
STA did not do so.
The third Soviet nuclear test
occurred in July while Under
Secretary of State Averell Har
riman was in Moscow negotiat
ing the partial test bar accord
now before the Senate. All three
explosions were in the kiloton
range. A kiloton is the explosive
equivalent Of 1000 tons of TINT
According to nuclear experts
who analyzed the tests. their
findings show that the Russians
are near the development of a
clean nuclear weapon that
will be undetectable by the U. S.
even when fired in the atnos-
phere. Several U. S. military-in-
telligence experts believe that
this may now be the case.
TEST BAN FALLOUT I'M The
debate over the nuclear test ban
treaty isn't helping to improve
the strained relations that now
exist between some members Of
the Senate
Senator Russell Long, Ola,
or the outs with leaders of his
party in the Senate, took advan-
tage Of the debate to needle
Senate Democratic Whip Hubert
Humphrey, MINI. about his Re-
cent trip to Russia.
Constantly interrupting Sena-
tor Humphrey during his speech
in support Of the treaty. Senator
Long startled the Minnesota
Democrat by inqulring:
II should like to ask the sena-
tor a question about his trip to
Gorky Park and his discussion
Of the treaty with the Russians.
Was that female blonde inter
prefer a Russian or an Ameri-
CAM"
"She is the wife Of an Ameri-
can political officer at the U. S.
Embassy in Moscow" replied
Senator Humphrey.
II am happy to hear that, "
said Senator Long. my general