SECOND THOUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 25679, 31 December 1945, Page 5

SECOND THOUGHTS

REACTION TO MOSCOW “ MUNICH PACT WITH RUSSIA " HO DISCLOSURE OF ATOMIC SECRETS WASHINGTON, December 30. Opposition appears to be gathering to the Moscow communique. High circles within the Truman Administration describe it as a Munich pact with Russia, and bitterly criticise Mr Byrnes for backing down from the firm stand taken at the Potsdam and London Conferences. It is felt that the United States has lost a commanding position in the Far East because she has abandoned the principle that American policy shall prevail in all issues in the case of a difference of opinion in the Advisory Commission. Mr Byrnes reiterated recently that the United States would never abandon this principle, but the veto power ia now shared to a limited degree by Britain, China, and Russia. After conferring with President Truman and Mr Dean Acheson (Acting Secretary of State), the Republican, Senator Vandenberg, said he had received an official interpretation of the Moscow agreement, making it clear that full security will surround each stage of dealing with the atomic energy problem. Furthermore, all phases would finally be the subject of Congressional approval. “ I am advised by the State Department,” he said, “ that while the communique listed four separate objectives, with inspections and controls listed last, it is not intended that the 'objectives should be taken in the order indicated, but that the four should be read together and each should be accompanied by full security requirements. This hopefully clarifies the situation. The problem cannot be handled by separate unrelated States. I share the general Congressional opinion that any disclosures of the atomic bomb" should be part of a complete plan for adequate world-wide inspection and control.” President Truman approved of Senator Vandenberg’s statement before it •was issued, and as a result, it is construed as giving Congress President Truman’s definite, though informal, assurance that no American atomic secret will be disclosed to anv other nation, including Russia, until a system of security through inspection and control has been made effective, says the ‘ New York Times ’ correspondent.