H-BOMB FOR SOVIET

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 9

H-BOMB FOR SOVIET

No Change Seen In Defence Plans (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 11. General Gruenther, the Supreme Commander of N.A.T.0., said tonight that the Soviet development of the hydrogen bomb had caused no material change in plans for defending Western Europe. “When the plans were first made it was envisaged that the Russians would nave a stockpile of atomic bombs,” he said. He believed that war with the Soviet Union was “never going to come if we keep our guard up, and I am sure we will keep our guard up.” If war should come, General Gruenther said, N.A.T.O. still had Hot enough ground, air, or sea forces to meet a determined Soviet attack. The pressing need was for greater air power—United States or European —because the key to victory in any* future war would be a strategic air force strong enough to strike a retaliatory blow. He said that prospects for a unified European Army were much better than they had ever been, and he said that the treaty setting up the European Defence Community might be within the next few months. The Mutual Security Administrator (Mr Harold Stassen) said tonight that the free world’s progress in defence and economic matters gave cause for cautious optimism in evaluating chances for world peace. Mr Stassen, who is also director of the Foreign Operations Administration, added: “Production is up, the cost of living is stabilised and the international trade situation appears brighter. “The progress made in the free world —progress in developing defence forces, progress in developing individual economies, progress in sharing technical knowledge—is significant and gives reason for cautious optimism, but formidable but not insurmountable problems lie ahead.” Mr Stassen said that the United States foreign policy was working well, and that co-operation with Western Allies had produced tangible results in defence facilities, and in trade and technical progress.