ATOMIC WEAPONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27388, 13 May 1950, Page 7

ATOMIC WEAPONS

American Supply For West Europe POSSIBILITY EXPLORED Opposing Views Surveyed NZPA—Copyright WASHINGTON, May 11. United States military officials are considering the idea that America arm her North Atlantic allies with atomic bombs. The idea of placing the bombs within the reach of Britain, France and other Allies is being explored thoroughly, and military arguments are developing both for and against. Defence officials later today described the reports as “ sheer speculation.” The advocates contend that some way must be found to arm Western Europe faster and cheaper than is possible with conventional weapons. They argue that the job'must be done in two years—the earliest time b'' which it is estimated that Russia may have a stockpile of atomic bombs adequate for a major blow. The proposal calls for a revolutionary concept of Western defence. It calls for the replacement of many expensive ground troops in Europe, with bombing groups supplied with large arsenals of light-weight atomic bombs.

’The advocates say that such a plan could be put into effect quickly and at far less cost than conventional defences: The nearness of atomic supplies also may deter the Russians from launching aggressive action.

Views of Opposition

United States military opponents of the plan argue that atomic bombs would be safer and more certain of delivery in American hands. The internal politics of some countries may throw-them into a Communist camp, or in war they may be over-run, allowing them to fall into Russian hands. Also secret information about American atomic weapons turned oyer to foreigners may leak out to Russia. Supporters of the idea contend that safeguards could easily be set up. Among their suggestions are the placing of control of the bombs in the hands of an Atlantic atomic energy control organisation, and the storing of bombs allotted to North Atlantic Treaty nations outside the European continent, but near enough for quick delivery. England and North America have been mentioned as possible repositories for the bombs, but with American personnel in actual charge of them. Any such plan must be approvedby the President and Congress. Any move to amend the present Atomic Energy Act, safeguarding information; would certainly meet strong resistance in Congress. Congress Strongly Opposed

Defence officials said the possibility of the United States storing atomic bombs in Britain had been discussed during the American, British, and Canadian atomic partnership talks last winter, but there was no active discussion of such a project at the present time. The officials said that the adoption of the proposal to arm the North Atlantic Powers with atomic bombs would present more than usual difficulties, because the consent of Congress would be required. Congress is known, to be strongly opposed to sharing even atomic information with other countries, and is likely to be even more strongly opposed to transferring the atomic bomb itself to foreign soil, whatever the safeguard.