Senator’s Evidence On U.S. Air “Initiative”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 16

Senator’s Evidence On U.S. Air “Initiative”

(K-Z- Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, January 20. Senator Lyndon Johnson (Democrat, Texas) had told the Senate Preparedness Sub-com-mittee that Congress might have to take the initiative from the White House to build up United States air and missile power, it was disclosed today. Senator Johnson, the Senate Democratic leader, made Jiis statement at a closed session of the sub-committee on Thursday. Hie group which Senator Johnson heads released today a censored transcript of the proceedings. The transcript recorded Senator Johnson as saying at one point: “T would say the Executive has not yet proposed any increase. . . . We may have to initiate it here.” When the transcript was released, the sub-committee was turning its attention to the question of the adequacy of the submarine and missile programmes in what was scheduled as the final week of its general. inquiry into the state of United States defences. Among witnesses called for testimony were Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, and Rear-Admiral W. F. Raborn. who is supervising the development of the Polaris missile. Main Witnesses Last week the principal witwere representatives of various firms engaged in missile and aircraft work. Tliese points were among the highlights of testimony as disclosed today with release of a Pentagon-censored transcript: Makers of the Snark—a longrange guided missile that is in effect an unmanned bomber—testified that except for lack of funds, production could have begun rolling on the Snark two yeaes ago. The Snark is made by Northrop Aircraft, Inc. The delivery of Atles missiles will continue through the year at approximately its present rate. The number is a military secret. The programme to develop a missile that can shoot down enemy missiles needs—but has not receded—full scale authorisation. The Strategic Air Command needs more money to rehire some crews it has been losing, and to buy material and other items. The production of supersonic medimn B-58 bombers could be stepped up beyond present limits. At Chicago, President Eisenhower launching the 1958 drive for a Republican Congress, said tonigiit that America's security had been “markedly strengthened”' during his five years in office. In in’ address prepared for a

party dinner and for a coast-to-coast television-radio audience, the President pledged that ’ his Administration would keep the nation’s defences strong to deal with the Soviet threat. Sixth Year Mr Eisenhower, who started his sixth year as President today called for the election in November of a Republican “team of all stars” in culmination of the party drive to take over the control of Congress from the Democrats. Even while taking issue with the Democrats, who contend that America’s defences are becoming weaker under his Administration, Mr Eisenhower insisted that the matter of United States security and differences over it —must be kept out of politics. The President, speaking at the Chicago International Amphitheatre, where he was nominated in 1952, said: “Our first objective—security and a just peace—is not a partisan of political matter. Americans must never and will never let the issue of security and peace become a pawn in anyone’s political chess game.”