RUSSIA AND THE ATOMIC BOMB— Soviet Claim---“Has Had Secret Since 1947”

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1949, Page 6

RUSSIA AND THE ATOMIC BOMB— Soviet Claim---“Has Had Secret Since 1947”

LONDON, September 25.—The announcement by the United States British, and Canadian Governments that “an atomic explosion occurred in Russia within recent weeks,” has been followed by a statement today by Tass, the official Soviet news agency, that Russia has had the secret of the atom bomb since 1947. Tass said that Russia’s knowledge gave not the slightest ground for alarm. Russia would continue to favour prohibition of the use of atomic weapons.

According to Berlin sources, the Political Adviser to the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (Mr V. S. Semeonov) said that Russia’s atomic experiments had reached a decisive stage as long ago as January, 1949. Mr Semeonov added: “The Soviet Union is now in a position to wait quietly, and see whether the Western Powers enter into an atomic arms race or agree to ban the atomic bomb.” High United States officials in Washington yesterday said that the United States still held a vast lead over Russia in the field of atomic weapons, and in all probability would never lose it. Two officials close to the President said that Mr Truman had timed his announcement carefully, so that it would come after the Senate’s debate on the arming of Europe. It was certain, these men said, that it was an atom , bomb which had exploded in Russia. The evidence had been checked, rechecked, and doublechecked. The White House had learned of the Soviet explosion through the efforts of various intelligence agencies in the United States, Britain, and Canada. Balance Of Power All morning newspapers in London yesterday gave prominence in leading articles to the announcement of an atomic explosion in Russia. “The Times said: “It would be useless to pretend that it will make no change in the balance of world power. “It is impossible to make any accurate forecast of the effect of this discovery on Russian policy. It may be that the Soviet will be less nervous of American power and confidence, and therefore more ready to take risks. On the other hand, it may well be that this new assurance will make Russia less hysterical in her suspicions and more open to reasonable proposals. “There is no reason for the Western Powers to change their policy. Their desire has always been to live in peace with the Soviet Union, if the Soviet Union will live in peace with them.” .The Daily Mail said: “The crash of the Russian bomb will come as a far greater shock than the almost off-hand announcement of the crash of the British £. Visions of a new and;

more terrible war will be conjured up. There is a widespread opinion that peace has been maintained only by the fact that the Americans possessed the atom bomb and the Russians did not. “It is odds on that the Russians have the atom b.omb, but it does not necessarily mean that now that the two giants are on equal terms a clash must follow. The problem is that Russia, who refused to put atomic powers under international control when she had not got the bomb, is even less likely to accept it now that she has.”

The diplomatic correspondent of the London Evening News says that the news that Russia has the atomic bomb is expected to result in a closer sharing of atomic secrets among the United States, Britain, and Canada, ilt is also expected that a number of ’ atomic bombs will be stored in BritI ain under American control. The Evening News correspondent quotes a United States Air Force spokesman in London as saying that it is probable that 850 bombers, which are designed to carry atomic bombs long distances, will replace the 829 bombers now based in Britain. Arctic Strategy The military correspondent of the (Sunday Express says: “Britain and the United States acted swiftly after the news that Russia had the atom bomb. The centre of global strategic i planning has shifted to the Arctic, 1 and British observers, including Royal Air Force experts, have already been sent north to carry out recordings connected with the nuclear fission disturbance. Royal Naval ships will soon be detached for Arctic patrol to report any unusual scientific data. Each ship will be equipped for recording radio-activity. “The work of the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Forces will be more closely linked,- and greater use will be made of American bases in Greenland for experimental flights. “An immediate meeting of the American and British Chiefs of Staff will be held, after which there will be a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Atlantic .Pact Countries. Atomic scientists will attend these meetings.”