Communist Unity ‘Fractured’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 9

Communist Unity ‘Fractured’

(N.Z. Press Auoclatlon —Copyright)

WASHINGTON, January 30. The United States had increasing evidence that the Communist unity of the Soviet Union and China had been “fractured—perhaps irreparably,” the United States Defence Secretary (Mr McNamara) said today.

“Although we may draw some comfort from this falling out between, the Communist giants," he said, “the world situation remains perilous.” Mr McNamara made the assessment in his annual report to the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee on the state of United States military power. He presented the 183-page summary at a closed session. A censored version was made public by the committee.

The Defence Secretary assured Congress that the United States was “fully capable” of destroying key Soviet targets “even after absorbing an initial surprise ■track.”

He Mid the United States had about 860 bombtrna on 15-minute (round alert and more than 200 Atlas, Titan and Minuteman miasilaa on launcher*, as well *s 144 Polaris missiles In submarine* ready to retaliate. “AUowin* for lease* from

in initial enemy attack and attrition en route to target." he said, "we calculate that our force* today could still destroy ch* Soviet Union without any help from th* deployed tactical air unit* or carrier task force* or Thor or Jupiter intermediate-rance ballistic miaailM.” Mr McNamara aaid President Kennedy’] recommended 53,700 mtllion-dollar defence budget would strengthen United State* prepared new even mor* while th* Soviet Union and china “struggle for power in th* Communist camp." Mr McNamara said th* Soviet Union continued to be the major threat, especially in Europe. But of th* two Communist giants, he said. Chin* was “by far th* more bel'igerent and th* mor* racuaas, and therefor* very dangerous to th* peace of th* world." Th* Soviet Union “has a great deal to lose in a nuclear war—material wealth a* well as human life." But, he said, “the economically impoverished Chinese Communist*, to whom human life has IHtl* value, believe they hav* much ]*■* to loae."