ATOMIC UNCONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 4

ATOMIC UNCONTROL

After two' years of frustration the Atomic Energy Commission of the United Nations has given up its attempts to establish the international control of atomic energy. The intimation in the world’s news of this event has passed almost unnoticed in the interest aroused by the happenings in Palestine. There can be not the slightest doubt, however, that the admission of failure by the commission is 6t by far the greater importance.' This failure means that an atomic armaments race is to continue, placing an additional strain on the swelling military budgets of - the .nations, and providing another fruitful ground for mutual suspicions. The imagination refuses to believe what may be the outcome of this—an atomic war, destruction on an unparalleled scale, perhaps even the collapse of our present civilisation. Because of these frightful possibilities the question must be asked if it is wise that this organisation should pass out of existence. Even although little or nothing has been achieved in two years, that is a brief period in which to decide that nothing can be done about a matter which affects the whole future of history. Nine members of the commission voted against its continuance, and two—Russia and a satellite—voted that it should remain. Russia has consistently placed obstacles in the way of progress, but at the concluding session Mr Gromyko said he believed that agreement was possible, though not on the basis of the American proposals. Unless the other members were convinced that the only alternative was to accept in toto the Soviet proposals, it might have been better to retain the commission which provided machinery for negotiation. The problem before the commission was, in its elements, how to effect a transition from a situation in which one Power held the vital knowledge and the atomic weapon itself and the others held only a partial knowledge, to a situation in which control would be freely exercised and scientific knowledge freely exchanged. The temporarily stronger Power required assurances before it surrendered its advantage. The other side refused to enter into compacts before it was placed in a position of relative equality. It was a psychological problem and it has now been demonstrated, as in other aspects of the United Nations activities, that the Powers have not yet attained sufficient confidence in international co-operation to undei’take the surrender of sovereign

rights. The continuation of the stalemate provides an interval in which equality of atomic knowledge may be attained. When this takes place, a new stage will have been reached and,, if in the meanwhile progress can be made through other approaches to international confidence, the question of atomic control might then be considered with a greater hope of success. It must be admitted that at present there are few reasons for such optimism and the average man must regret the abandonment of an instrument which, even if it had not yet been successful, had not caused any damage.