BRITAIN’S ATOM WEAPONS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27211, 1 December 1953, Page 11

BRITAIN’S ATOM WEAPONS

“Madness To Hesitate To Use Them” (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, November 30 With weapons of such tremendous Dower as the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb now presumably at the disposal of all the Great Powers it would be “sheer madness” for Britain to hesitate to use them if attacked, and “madness” even to let potential enemies believe that Britain should so hesitate, says Air Marshal Sir Robert Saundby in the magazine, the “Aeroplane.” “This idea that we should forego the use of a weapon or method of warfare not banned by international agreement in the hope that if we do not use it the enemy will be gentlemanly enough not to use it either, is by no means a new one. “Since the end of World War II we have had to face the uncompromising hostility of the Soviet Communist Empire. They refuse to co-operate with the free world. “Everything we do is misrepresented and is used to stoke the fires of fear and hatred. “The rulers of Russia and China are determined to extend the rule of communism by force or fraud to every part of the world. They subsidise and support political unrest, foment industrial strife and foster colonial nationalism. “But never even in moments of supreme tension have they dared to act in such a way as to risk a general war. “Obvious Reason” "The reason for this is obvious. It Is because the United States has a great stockpile of atomic bombs and a welltrained strategic air command capable of delivering bombs on their targets. It is air power with its threat of new weapons of mass destruction that has prevented the cold war from becoming a hot one. There is nothing the free world could do which would be so likely to bring about a third World War as to convince the rulers of Russia and China that we should hesitate to use the atom bomb or the hydrogen bomb if available, if we were attacked.

“If we are to succeed in avoiding war, it is imperative that no-one should have the slightest doubts of our intention and capacity to use atom bombs and hydrogen ‘ bombs instantly and effectively if we are driven to it. “And there is no more certain way, if war should come, of ensuring that the second Battle of Britain would be fought over our heads than by being unready or unwilling to use atom bombs immediately to carry the war into the enemy’s skies.” Archbishop’s Comment The Archbichop of York (Dr. C. F. Garbett) said today he wished that the informal talks between the West and Russia could be extended to cover nuclear weapons. Dr. Garbett writing in his diocesan leaflet added that at this stage they would have to be informal, exploratory, and confidential. “It is difficult to see how they could worsen the position, for almost anything seems better than drifting on while vast quantities of weapons are piled up at enormous cost.” .. D £w G ? I 3 >e & who is on his way to the West Indies, said it was plain that no nation would agree to abandon its defence by nuclear weapons unless nations strong in other armaments also agreed to the reduction. “Such talks could be undertaken only with the complete goodwill of the United States,” he said. “We may often differ on minor matters, but these must not be allowed to interfere with the closest co-operation ” Big Tanker’s First Voyage.—The tanker Tina Onassis, with a carrying capacity of 45,000 tons, left a Hamburg shipyard on her maiden voyage for the Persian Gulf today on charter. With a displacement of 60,000 tons, the tanker ranks fourth in world shipping, after the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, and the United States.— London, November 2s.