ATOMIC STRENGTH OF RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26117, 20 May 1950, Page 7

ATOMIC STRENGTH OF RUSSIA

Warning By General Bradley CHOICE FACING U.S. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 19. “In a few years we and our friends may have to face the reality of Russian atomic strength,” said General Omar Bradley, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a speech to-day. He described Russia as “an atomic blackmailer” whose strength in a few years would probably allow her to deliver a devastating blow at any area she chose to attack. “The question is, should we meet such a threat in Europe with appeasement on the Elbe? Personally, I do not believe so. Or should we in the United States pull back into a gopher hole of isolation and leave our friends in Europe at the mercy of atomic blackmailers? Certainly not.” General Bradley said that the choice for the United States was to prepare its defences so that no attack would cripple “this arsenal of the Western world, leaving it to lie supinely at the mercy of Communism and Soviet legions. We must prepare, along with our friends in the North Atlantic Pact, to make Europe reasonably secure from being overrun quickly on the ground.

Our best chance for the realisation of our objectives is a quick assumption of the leadership which the Western world has left open for us. It must be pursued energetically, with ou .r combined economic, political, and military capabilities. “Our ideals must show forth plainly through all our actions. It must be a bold programme which underw^ es freedom unlimited.” The fundamental approach should be the permanent extension of freedom not just an expedient containment of Communism. We can imolement this programme with increased production conduct it with total diplomacy, and back it up with adequate armed forces, in this way our defence plans can plac? art ° f ° Ur strate §y for lasting

We can disrupt or break up the esi ?. n ’ We can create order flupn°Zx dl f < ? der * We can deny toe influence of Communist slavery. fi .‘ As we demonstrate power‘and con- £? C j- an r a sense of moral and political direction we will evoke these same qualities in Western Europe.”