215 



treatv.^^ In his testimonv, McCone "imqualifiedlv endorsed this treaty, 

 with the four [ JCS] provisos * * *." «« 



T estiTnony hy opponents of the treaty 



The main opposition to the treaty in the Foreign Relations Com- 

 mittee hearing was supplied by Dr. Teller. He was impressed with 

 the unpredictability of nuclear science, the unreliability of intelligence, 

 and the importance of peaceful uses of nuclear explosives which he 

 said the treaty would hamper. He regarded unrestricted tests as bene- 

 ficial to the United States: in his view the Soviets were "ahead" in 

 numerous categories of development involving nuclear testing, an 

 ABM system was feasible, the treaty would not halt nuclear pro- 

 liferation, and because testing in outer space could not be policed it 

 should therefore be permitted. He feared the test ban would impair 

 relations with allies of the United States and prove generally a source 

 of instability. He said: "The reason that I am w^orried about this 

 treaty is because I believe that this treaty is a step not toward peace 

 liut rather a step away from safety, possibly a step toward war." ^^ 

 Indicating that intelligence had been wrong in estimating when the 

 Soviet Union would achieve a nuclear capability, that Soviet prepa- 

 rations for the surprise abrogation of the test moratorium had not 

 been anticipated, that the Russian sputnik had been a surprise, and 

 that it was generally difficult to glean intelligence from a police state, 

 he concluded : "On the basis of the past performance of our intelli- 

 gence, we cannot be comfortable and we cannot say that we know what 

 the Russians know." ^^ As to the ABM, he said : "A few years ago I 

 firmly believed that missile defense was hopeless. I am now convinced 

 that I was wrong." ^^ With respect to Plowshare, Teller said : 



We can make harbors, we can make sea level canals, we can deflect rivers, we 

 •can throw off overburden from deep deposits, deep mineral deposits and increase 

 our wealth and the wealth of other nations. AYe can do it in a very clean way. 

 We can do it in such a way, I believe, 2 years from now it will be possible to 

 make an explosion that will have made a crater and land in this crater as soon 

 as the dust has settled, in 15 minutes, without exposing ourselves to more radia- 

 tion than we have taken year in and year out in our laboratories. All this can 

 be done. But there will be some measurable radioactivity, and this treaty pro- 

 hibits the deposition of any radioactivity outside the territory of the United 

 States.^"" 



The future of nuclear development, said Teller, was unpredictable, 

 and the — 



* * * development of a rapidly moving field such as that of atomic energy, is 

 completely beyond my predictions. I have made the historical introduction to 

 demonstrate to you by the surprises of the past that surprises must be expected 

 in the future. 



They might be in offensive or defensive weapons, and would surely 

 be in peaceful uses.^-^ In Teller's judgment, the "Russians have worked 

 much harder" and "are already ahead" in nuclear development.^"^ 

 '\'VTiile it was true that the treaty might have "exacerbated the Sino- 

 Soviet difference," he saw no other way "in which this treaty might 

 retard or disturb the Communists." 



** Ibid., p. 19. 



^ Statement by Senator Mansfield, Ibid., p. 490. 



"" Ibid., p. 418. 



"« Ibid., p. 422. 



«» Ibid., p. 420. 



^'^ Ibid., pp. 426-427. 



^f^ Ibid., p. 435. 



>«> Ibid., p. 448. 



