ATOM BOMB POLICY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 11

ATOM BOMB POLICY

Churchill’s Reply In Commons

LONDON, March 23. The Prime Minister (Sir Winston Churchill) told the House of Comn?ons today that smooth and friendly arrangements existed for consultation with President Eisenhower and the United States Government about the use of atomic bombs. Labour members had questioned him about the machinery for consultation about their use in the event of a war involving both - countries. Sir Winston Churchill said that the United States bases in Britain were covered by the communique agreed with the United States Government in January, 1952. This, he said, provided that the use of these bases in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by the British and United States Governments. The recent statements of the American Secretary of State, Mr John Foster Dulles (about instant retaliation) had been in full accord with this understanding.

“I have had intimate correspondence and conversations on these and many other questions with Mr Eisenhower in the past and our relations continue,” said the Prime Minister. He did not think that any change in procedure was called for at the moment.

“Let me assure the House that there is nothing in the whole world of affairs that dominates our thoughts more than the group of stupendous problems and perils comprised in the sphere of atomic and hydrogen developments.” said the Piime Minister. A Labour member. Mr George Thomas, asked if hydrogen bombs, “600 times as devilish as atom bombs,” were to be produced in Britain. The Prime Minister replied: “All this requires very careful consideration. Indifference and slothfulness of file mind in regard‘to these tremendous facts is culpable—blameworthy. Put I am much more sure that anything like panic would be much more likely to lead to war than to a peaceful solution.”

Sir Winston Churchill said that it W’ould not be in the public interest to make a statement on the Governlent’s policy towards the development of the hydrogen bomb in Britain.

Answering a further question about the abolition of these weapons, the Prime Minister said: “It was not easy to discover these frightful weapons, but I think it may be found more difficult to abolish them. Increasing good feeling in the world may make us secure and enable us to ride above these new but possibly mortal weapons.” Mr William Proctor (Labour) urged the Prime Minister to set up a Parliamentary committee to study Britain’s whole defence efforts' in view of Mr Eisenhower's revelations about the power of the hydrogen bomb. Sir Winston Churchill replied: “The Government cannot divest itself of its responsibility for defence in this way. I wish I could.” In another reference to atomic development the Prime Minister said: “Remarkable restraint has been shown by the newspapers in these matters, and I only hope and trust that the nation and the thinking people in it will not in any way underrate the overwhelming consequences of the developments which are taking place. They fill my mind out of all companion with anything else.”