THE ATOMIC BOMB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 118, 23 May 1946, Page 4

THE ATOMIC BOMB

Sir, “Ngamatapouri" in attacking my letter of April 29. one might almost say attacking me. for my letter of April 29—wants to know how we could give Russia information we had not got. Surely everyone else realised “we” referred to ihe other parties to the agreement—viz. Britain (representing the British Commonwealth of Nations) and U.S.A. “Ngamatapouri” is evidently satisfied with a low standard of honour if he excuses the English-speaking allies’ failure to give Russia the atomic bomb secret on the grounds that he believes Russia held- back information about a gun. There was a rumour about such a gun, but I have never seen it mentioned officially. He also complains that “thb Russians did not give their allies Ihe use of bases in Manchuria to enable them to bomb Japan." Now Russia and Japan had a neutrality pact in operation until the former denounced it in April, 1945; Manchuria had been under Japanese domination since 1932. and Russia was not at war with Japan until August 9, 1945, the Japs suing for peace on the 10th. and agreeing to unconditional surrender on August 15. “Facts ‘Please,” by ably criticising "Ngamatapouri’s" comments on Stalin’s non-aggression pact with Germany, has saved me the trouble. Among recent great scientists are the German Nobel prize winners, Einstein. Rontgen, Gustav Hertz, Koch, Ehrlich, and Warburg, all of whom gave their knowledge to the world, and some, like Einstein left Germany al the coming of ihe Nazis, forfeiting high position, German citizenship, and property, Io reserve their freedom to do so. “Ngamatapouri” still seems unable to distinguish between an alleged spy and a convicted sny. Nor is it proper to refer to an ally as a country wanting to attack us. My figures on the monetary value of British help sent to Russia were based on Mr. Attlee's, given in April Io the House of Commons; and an estimate of the daily cost of Ihe war Io Britain has often been mentioned. A little division sum then gave me 28 days. If “Ngamatapouri" did not go blind whenever he sees the word Russia he would have read of the huge shipments of wheat that country is de-

livering to France, and would know that Russia is the only badly ravaged country exporting food in this way to other stricken countries. He could also have read Stalin’s peaceful May day speech and much informative literature which would remove from his mind this mystery he suffers from about that country. As for my being an advocate of Russia—l am an advocate of World peace based on honesty and truth and a sensible getting together; and this deliberate ‘hymn of hate’ seriously threatens it, and with it our Empire and my own country of which “Ngamatapouri,’’ in spite of his sneer, knows me to be a true patriot. I am grateful to Russia for shortening the war and thus saving more lads, including “Ngamatapouri’s own, being thrown into the slaughter.—l am, etc., K. ANNABELL.