U.S. MOBILISATION PLAN AS STANDBY

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1949, Page 5

U.S. MOBILISATION PLAN AS STANDBY

Bernard Baruch’s Argument

(Rec. 9.15' NEW YORK, Oct. 3 Mr Bernard Baruch, a financier, who has been adviser to six Presidents, to-night declared that the United States must immediately create a stand-by mobilisation plan to meet the threat of atomic warfare. Mr Baruch helped draw up a proposal submitted to the United Nations fop the international control of atomic energy.

Mr Baruch said th U. the ■ United States xmust (maintain its overwhelming advantage in the atomic weapons field. He also urged the nation firstly, to re-examine its strategy for peace; and secondly, to stand its ground in insisting on nothing less than truly effective international control of atomic energy. Mr Baruch said that he w'as not calling for a stand-by mobilisation programme which included a “thorough going” civilian defence in any alarmist sense. He said: “If it is done properly, it could be our most effective single deterrent against another w-’ar. Congress should enact all the necessary legislation to go into effect} in the event of an emergency. We dare not wait until the bombs are falling to debate the control ol prices, w'ages and rents or the elimination of profiteering, the rationing., of scarce commodifies, the civilian defence of cities and other measures.”