Atomic power, the most destructive——or constructive—
force the world has ever sown, has today become the
centre of a struggle between progressive and reactionary
forces. Who will control the atom? On Elis question
hinges the future of mankind.

the

NEW YORE, N.Y.—'The most

destructive weapon in the
world may be the instrument
by which military-dominated
fascism may storm into power
in the United States,’ accord-
ing to the CIO News in a fea-
ture article last week.

The CIO News, organ of
more than 6,000,000 organized
American workers, warned that
the atomic bomb,
age that wiped out two Japan-
ese cities,” had now become a
political force seriously en-
dangering the democratic life
of the nation.

“The atomic bomb,” the CIO
News declared, “is now the
subject of a congressional fight
over whether its control, and
the development of atomic en-
ergy for peacetime purposes,
~shall rest with civilians or the
military.

Highlighted by “spy” scares
and hysterical newspaper head-
lines carrying the threats of
World War -Ilt, the issue is
being decided in some minds
by emotions rather than by
reason.

By 10-1 vote, the Senate
Atomic Energy Committee re-
cently recommended that con-

“horror pack-

trol of atomic problems pe
turned over, in effect, to the
military.

The Significance of the action
is pointed up by the vigorous
attack against it from Henry
A. Wallace, secretary of com-
merce.

MILITARY FASCISM?

Wallace said the committee’s
action “has potentialities to de-
liver us into the hands of mili-
tary fascism.”

“T hope,” he declared, “that
when the American people rea-
lize its significance, they will
rise up in their wrath and Iet
the Senators know what that
action means.”

What Wallace was talking
about was the committee’s pro-
posal, originated by. Republi-
can Senator Vandenberg, pro-
viding for establishment of
both a civilian commission to
control atomic development and
a Military board.

The military board would
have the power to initiate plans
and to veto those suggested by
the civilian commission by ap-
pealing-to one man, the preési-
dent of the United States.

Vast power is placed in the
hands of the Iilitary. The
board would have authority to
intervene in any situation,
which, in the military’s mind,
might affect the Security of
the nation.

GESTAPG RULE

Almost every phase of de-
velopment of atomic energy,
for peace or War, thus would
come under the province of
military board, which
could establish a2 Gestapo rule
of the country under the
theory that the nation’s “se-
curity” was threatened.

This is the proposal wrapped
up in the Vanaenberg amend-

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 12

\

ment to the Mc-Mahon Bill,
(S1i717).

The McMahon Bill, twice ap-
proved by President Truman in
its original form, would — if
net amended—set up a civilian
control commission.

Another bill, in the House of
Representatives, would give
control solely to a part-time
commission, and to an adminis-
tration solely responsible to
the commission. The adminis-
trator could be a military man.

This legislation is known as
the May-Johnson Bill (HR
4566), which has been vigor-
ously opposed by the CIO, by
other liberal organizations and
by the Federation of American
Scientists, most of whose mem-
bers are the men and women
who invented and produced the
bomb.

These scientists, better than
anyane else, know the potenti-
alties for world destruction and
world development contained
in atomic energy. This week,
discussing the Vandenberg pro-
posal for military participation
in control of atomic energy,
they said.

“Never before in the history
of the U.S—not even in time
of war—has the military been
given policy-making powers.
This bill, if made into law,
will be a. clear declaration to
the world that the people of
the US. will put their faith
only in military might. B

“The Military in peacetime
naturally has the assigned job
of assuming that we will be
involved in another major war,
and of making preparations to
win it. They must not be
Siven policy control in a field
where our major aim is to
work out those cordial inter-
national relations which will
avoid the necessity for war.

“We feel that it is time to
re-affirm belief that the only
true security lies in world con-
trol of atomic energy and a
world free from war. Pre-
atomic thinking must go. The
difficulties in world cooperation
are great but peace cannot be
achieved by force. Atomic en-
ergy is the most important
Single factor in world policy.

The CIO itself, at the last
executive board meeting Noy.
2, 1945, went on record against
the May-Johnson bill,
Since has voiced vigorous ob-
jection to the proposals con-
tained in the Vandenberg
amendment.

The CIO recommended that
the following steps be taken
immediately:

i “Immediate negotiations
with Britain and ‘Russia to
agree on worldwide atomic en-
ergy controls, and extension of
the agreement thereafter to
the UNO.

2. “The United Nations to
outlaw the use of atomic en-
ergy for military purposes, and
all production of the atomic
bombs. United Nations control
of atomic energy raw materials
and production everywhere in
the world, with full authority
to inspect, investigate and po-
lice.

6

— Must Choose Now!

S

NENCE ce eee
Eevee ab eee ad

Gest ABUT ATH EE Fee

3. “Broad worldwide public
information and education on
atomic energy, and, stimulation
of constructive peacetime de-
velopment.

4. “In the U.S., a democrat-
ically organized national ag-
ency to deal domestically with
atomie energy, composed of
representatives of sovernment,
labor, industry, farmers, uni-

versities, churches, scientists,
and military forces.

5. “Complete public control
for all atomic energy patent
rights and licenses in the U.S.

6. “Complete public control
of uranium and thorium ore
deposits and other raw ma-
terials in the U.S.

As good a statement as any
about what its potential de-

structive power means io
civilization was that made th
week by Mrs. Eleanor Foor |
velt: :
“It isn’t just a questian
another war in which hundre
of thousands of young peop
would lose their lives. Tt is
question of wiping out #£
civilization which now exis -
upon the earth.” j

and it.

— he
con-

WASHINGTON, D.C.
plan for international

trol of atomic energy, submit-
ted to the United Nations Org-
anization in New York last
week by the American delega-
tion, is not really what it
seems to be. A careful exam-
ination shows that the Ameri-
can plan aims, not at inter-
national control, but at con-
trol by the United States.

For all its complicated scien-
tific terms the plan stresses
that the United States will not
be required to divulge the tech-
nological “secrets” of bomb-
making. Wor is the U.S. re-
quired to cease the manufac-
ture of bombs nor to get rid
of the huge stockpile of atom-
bombs it now has.

It was implied, however, that
the secrets are a temporary
affair at best. In fact, the U.S.
Plan discounted the matter of
possession of a few secrets by.

Atomic Power For

World War III?

of America’s
field to

its explaantion
preeminence in this
four facts:

The U.S. has gone further in
pure science.

It has greater knowledge of
technical methods.

It has access to the neces-
Sary raw materials.

It is the greatest industrial
nation in the world.

Although no country was
hamed, it was accepted that
the WSSR was constantly in
the mind of the committee in
drafting the plan.

The implication was that if
the USSR continues to pro-
gress industrially and scien-
tifically, she will haye the so-
called secrets regardless of
what the U.S. does.

These are some of the facts
which suggest that the U.S.
plan has for its real aims the
following:

1. To be able to ascertain at
all stages what progress the

USSR and other countries 4
Making in atomic research ~

2. To hamper that pre”
wherever possible.

The U.S. is required to t
vulge nothing. But meanwhi ©
the agents of the internation
body are scurrying around ue
world, prospecting for uraniu’
and thorium. If there are at 7
deposits in France or the Sd’
iet Union or Bulgaria, the U
will learn of it quickly. Inte’
national experts, including JU. |
officers, will be on the spa!
While the U.S. retains her s |
crets, no other -country wi
have any secret safe from tt
US: ;

it has been said that ihe rei
reason the U.S. would like 1
keep atomic knowledge frai-
the USSR is its fear of whe
will happen industrially an}
Scientifically when. Socialist
ahd atomic energy mix. Will
out the restraints of the cap
talist system, the Soviet Unia
would be able to carry atomi
Science further and faster the
any Capitalist. power i

The.contradiction lies in ig
fact that the USA continues 1?
regard atomic energy primari)
aS a weapon, and continues 1
regard the USSR as a hostr
power. —

FRIDAY, APR, 19, 194
i}