Kennedy May Raise Test Issue At U.N.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29608, 2 September 1961, Page 11

Kennedy May Raise Test Issue At U.N.

(N.ZJ’ui.-Reoter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 1. President Kennedy may go to the United Nations to challenge the Soviet Union’s intention to resume nuclear tests as a danger to all mankind, authoritative sources reported today. The President weighed the impact of a personal appearance at the General Assembly next month to spotlight what he described yesterday as “atomic blackmail.”

Sources said the President was definitely considering an appearance before the General Assembly, which opens in New York on September 19, but had not reached a final decision. The President today continued his urgent study of the implications of the Soviet decision, its effects on United States security, and the world-wide condemnation of Moscow's plan to break the moratorium and go ahead with tests of super-bombs up to the equivalent of 100 million tons of T.N.T. A bomb of this magnitude would be 5000 times more powerful than the atom bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the closing days of World War 11. No UiS. Tests The President indicated yesterday that he had decided against a U.S. resumption of tests, for the time being at least, for two reasons. One was his conviction that “the size of the U.S. nuclear weanons stockpile and the capabilities of individual weapons and delivery systems are wholly adequate for the defence needs of the United States and of the free world.” This was interpreted as meaning he was confident that the United States would maintain its clear nuclear superiority even though the Soviet Union might achieve some weapons progress in its coming tests. The second reason was understood to be the propaganda and diplomatic advantages which the West would rean as the result of worldwide expressions of t shock and dismay over the Soviet decision The President last night conferred with the director of the U.S. Information Agency (Mr Edward Murrow) who was reoorted to have given him the latest accounts of reaction around the globe. Neutral Opposition As the President conferred with his advisers. United States officials were keeping a close watch on the neutral nations conference which began In Belgrade todav

The Soviet Union timed its announcement about resuming tests on the eve of the meeting of two dozen key uncommitted nations from Asia. Africa and Latin America, whose opposition to nuclear testing has been an important influence on Moscow and Washington until now. United States officials said that the Soviet Union, defying world opinion, had thrown down a new challenge to the West, had injected a grim note into the cold war, and was apparently being driven by compelling military reasons to test new weapons. President Kennedy charged the Soviet Union yesterday with “a form of atomic black, mail, designed to substitute terror for reason in the present international scene." The White House statement said: "The President met this morning with members of the Security Council and with congressional leaders to discuss the resiunption of nuclear testing by the Soviet Union. It was recognised that the Soviet announcement was primarily a form of atomic blackmail, designed to substitute terror for reason in , the present international scene. “What the Soviet Union is obviously testing is not only nuclear devices but the will

and determination of the free world to resist such tactics and to defend freedom.

“The President is entirely confident that the size of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and the capabilities of individual weapons and delivery systems are wholly adequate for the defence needs of the United States and of the free world. "The President shares the disappointment registered throughout the world that serious and sustained attempts to ban nuclear testing have come to this abrupt end.” Warning to Russia The chief United States United Nations delegate (Mr Adlai Stevenson) warned the Soviet Union that its decision to increase its nuclear arms capability by resuming weapons tests would not deter the West from defending Berlin. At the same time, he said the Soviet Union would make “future negotiations all the more difficult.” Mr Stevenson linked the Soviet decision to the Berlin crisis in a formal statement issued after day-long talks with advisers yesterday. Earlier in Washington. Congressmen clamoured for the resumption of United States nuclear tests following the Soviet announcement that it intended to resume testing. However, the Senate Democratic leader (Senator M. Mansfield) warned that in spite of the latest development, “some day, some

time, some how, agreement for control of nuclear weapons will have to be found . . . If some agreement is not reached, all mankind will be at stake.

“I hope we will not become stampeded,” he told the Senate, “but think this through and act as calmly as possible.” The chairman of the House-Senate Atomic Energy Committee (Mr C. Holifield) said that the United States has known for many years how to make a 50 or 100 megaton nuclear bomb such as the Soviet announcement of last night boasted. But he said there was "little or no military»justification for such a large weapon.” He said: “It is a scientific fact that five 20 megaton weapons would cause more damage than one 100 megaton weapon." “Shocking News" In London, the British Foreign Secretary- (Lord Home) described as "shocking news” the Soviet announcement. In a step unprecedented since the end of World War II the British Foreign Office spokesman read aloud at his news conference a strong statement on Russia’s decision to resume testing, drafted this morning by Lord Home after he returned from Scotland. “Last night's announcement reversing the previous Soviet position contemptuously Ignores the desires of ordinary people everywhere reflected in the policy of the British Government to see an end of nuclear tests,” the statement said. At the United Nations, diplomats from around the nonCommunist world were dismayed at the Soviet decision, the Associated Press said. "It's very bad news.” said an unnamed Arab neutralist. "It's a disturbing thing,” said the Indian Ambassador (Mr Chandra Shekhah Jha). But the Soviet delegate (Mr Platon Murozov) told other diplomats and reporters the decision was really a step toward peace, contending it was aimed to deter the West from starting an atomic war. Other Communist delegates echoed this view.