Hydrogen Politics

Public debate on the nation's policy of developing atomic and hydrogen bombs always has been handicapped by one stark fact: there can hardly be two sides to the argument when the nondebating Russians are rushing to perfect the biggest, most devastating weapons as fast as they can --and now are bragging about it to boot (see FOREIGN NEWS). Last week two Democratic candidates relearned this lesson in a discussion that went, chronologically, thus:

Adlai Stevenson, in Washington: "I believe we should give prompt and earnest consideration to stopping further tests of the hydrogen bomb. As a layman, I question the sense in multiplying and enlarging weapons of a destructive power already almost incomprehensible. Of course, I would call upon other nations to follow our lead."

Estes Kefauver, in Washington: "I don't like the idea of just making a bigger and bigger bomb. I think we ought to be talking in terms of how we can get people thinking about peace rather than about bombs. But if the Russians are going to continue tests, I think we have got to continue tests too."

Soviet Boss Nikita Khrushchev, in Birmingham, England: "Special stress is now being laid on ballistic missiles. We can compete there too. I am certain that we shall quite soon have a ballistic missile with a hydrogen bomb that can fall anywhere in the world."

Air Force Secretary Donald Quarles: "I would not want to assume that Khrushchev did not know what he is talking about."

Missouri's Senator Stuart Symington: "If true, the Khrushchev statement is a significant and terrible warning to the American people and the free world."

Adlai Stevenson, in New York: "I suggested the other day that we should take a step toward peace by stopping further tests of the hydrogen bomb, but the means of delivery, by guided missiles or airplanes, is another question, and it is evident that we must renew our efforts in this area."

President Eisenhower: "We are working at top speed on this whole thing . . .But I do want to point this out. It is a little bit of a paradox to urge that we work just as hard as we know how on the guided missile and that we stop all research on the hydrogen bomb, because one without the other is rather useless . . .Research without test is perfectly useless."

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