LORD RUSSELL’S WARNING

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28819, 13 February 1959, Page 9

LORD RUSSELL’S WARNING

British Renunciation Of A-Weapons Urged rreu Association— Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 12. The philosopher, Earl Russell, warned in the House of Lords last night that “unless something drastic is done it is as likely as not that no Briton will be alive at the end of the century.” He was speaking in a debate on a motion which sought to have Britain voluntarily renounce nuclear weapons. The House rejected the proposal.

Lord Russell told the Lords that if there was war tomorrow he thought some people in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile would survive.

Earlier, Lord Simon of Wytnenshawe said it was estimated that 50 20-megatdn bombs dropped on Britain would kill 25.000.000 p'eop.e immediately, and radiation would kill the bulk of the remainder Lord Alexander of Hillsborougn. the leader of the Labour peers, said the Labour Party favoured banning the -bomb by universal agreement. It must come with mankind's determination to have general disarmament. If Britain renounced nuclear weapons unilaterally the • United States would be left with the defence of freedom. Britain would be "hiding behind the American bomb." Lord Russell said that it there was war tomorrow he thought some people in Australia. New Zealand. Argentina and Chile would survive But, judging from experience, the nations would set to work to prepare for the next war. "Mast Ban War’’ “It is not enough to ban nuclear weapons You have to ban war," he said “Unless something rather drastic is done it is at feast as likely as not that no Briton will oe alive at the end of the present century,” he said. The more countries that produced the bomb the greater the risk of accidental war througn its falling into the hands of irresponsible Governments and tne harder eventual agreement woulo be to reach Lord Russell said ne hoped that the Commonwealth countries were not relying on Britain for defence, “The Times" reported It was clear even, in the last war that Britain was not alone able to defend the Commonwealth, and he doubted whether the possession of the H-bomb had increased her capacity to do so. He regarded the motion as a first move in a long campaign to ensure the continued existence of the human race There was a feeling that in any

opposition to war there was something that was Left-wing or proRussian, he said. That was not .jiis feeling at all.. He was concerned with man. be be Chinese, French, Russian. American, ar British "Teats Bhoaid be Ended" Lord Henderson, a former Labdlir Foreign Under-Secretary, who was summing up tor the official Opposition, said: "The Labour Party, for whom I speak, does not advocate unilateral measures of disarmament. There is only one exception to that position—that this country should suspend British nuclear tests whatever other Governments may decide.” He doubted whether it was realistic to think that all nations, apart from Russia and the United States, would loin a non-nuclea' club. "Does anyone believe France and China would Join such a club?” he asked. The Minister of Defence <Mr Duncan Sandys) said in the House of Commons yesterday there could be no doubt that the West “still possesses indisputable superiority in nuclear hitting power" . He was answering a Laoour question from Mr Stephen Swingler. who had asked if Government policy was still based on its 1958 assessment that Soviei progress in rocket development had not upset the balance of military power, and that the Western Powers were still superior in this field -Policy ot Lunacy” Mr Swingler had asked whether n was still Government polity to use strategic nuclear weapons against a major attack with conventional arms involving any country covered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the South-east Asian Treaty Organisation, or the Bagdad Pact. Mr Swingler said it was a policy of “Utter madness” for Britain to threaten to initiate hydrogen-bomb warfare. It would be suicidal, and was a '‘policy of lunacy." Mr Sandys replied: “If it is a policy of lunacy, that lunacy is very widespread Ido not believe i’ to be lunacy 1 believe it is because of the existence of the nuclear deterrent during these past years that we have had a reasonable prospect of peace in the world.” The Minister answered several more questions on the use of strategic nuclear weapons by saying he had no new statement to make about Government' policy

Two Ships Lost

(Rec. 10 p.m.) HALIFAX, February 12. A Newfoundland trawler with 16 men aboard was given up for lost last night and hope for another trawler with 31 aboard has all but vanished.* Two empty dories and a lifeboat from the missing fishing boat. Blue Wave, were found of! Cape St Mary’s, Newfoundland, near the point where she capsised on Monday Searching aircraft then joined the hunt for the missing Icelandic trawler, the Juli, missing since last Saturday in the Atlantic north-east of Newfoundland Searching ships and aircraft found no trace of the vessel yesterday The last word from the Juli. with 31 aboard, was that she was heavy with frozen spray and fighting to stay afloat.