NEWS OF THE WEEK HE whole - point of President Eisenhower's
proposal for an international pool of atomic energy materials is its avoidance of the big and explosive subjects—dis- armament, banning of atomic weapons, international inspection. No great act of. faith is required of any country which takes part, and there is nothing in the scheme to inflame the suspicions which have bedevilled all former attempts to answer the large question that hangs over the world like a radioactive cloud. But Russia's response is disappointing. The Moscow Note says that the Soviet Government is ready to take part in confidential or diplomatic negotiations; but it goes on to give the imprdssion of a deliberate misunderstanding of the essentially limited nature of the President's proposal. It agrees to a conference, true, but also.suggests,,that the greater question should be discussed with the smaller: " The States- taking part in the agreement, guided by their wish for reducing inter- national tension, undertake solemn and unconditional pledges not to use atomic, hydrogen, or other weapons of mass extermination.", This is the same old line at the end of which lies only the sterile exchange of accusation and counter- accusation. And therefore it is to be feared that Russia's motive in accepting President Eisenhower's invitation is not to assist in the " easing of international tension " but rather to conjure up the old stalemate in a new form. There remains a chance that this suspicion may be unfounded. The Note does not actually insist on the unconditional banning of atomic weapons as a condition of Russia's participation in the lesser plan. But it'comes near to that point.
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