PROSPECTS OF PEACE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 5

PROSPECTS OF PEACE

Opinions in United States VIEW OF DEFENCE SECRETARY ' (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, May 21. The United States Defence Secretary (Mr Louis Johnson) said in a broadcast to-day. that he felt war was not imminent. He was convinced that • the strength of the United States would continue to deter any aggressor. “If people will continue to back us up by being alert and ready for service, war is in the distant future,” he said. He added that he and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff (General Omar Bradley) were going to the Far East next month because they wanted to learn about developments there. “We realise that we can stumble by accident, or a series of accidental adventures into a war situation." he said. “We want to avoid that. Therefore, we are interested, not alone in Europe. but also in any part of the world from which these accidents that make Avar might come.” General J. Lawton Collins, the Army Chief of Staff, speaking on the same radio programme, said that the United States had a "genuine” chance of preventing war if it kept its armed forces strong and continued to support the Marshall Plan, the North Atlantic Defence Pact, and the mutual defence programme. Anti-aircraft Defences General Collins disclosed that the United States was testing an anti-air-craft rocket which would destroy attacking aircraft at heights above 60.000 feet. Later he told the correspondent of the United Press that the Tactical Air Force support available to the Army was inadequate in quantity and quality for immediate action. He said he recognised that the Army probably would have to accept less than full requirements at present, because of limited funds and other military needs, of higher priority, but he felt that future Air Force programmes should provide an increased proportion of aircraft, designed primarily for the support of the Army. The number of troop-carrying aeroplanes, for instance, should be more than doubled.