How or When to Use Atom Bomb?

Grey River Argus, 12 November 1948, Page 8

How or When to Use Atom Bomb?

QUESTIONS FOR THE POSSESSORS LONDON, November 10. Dr, Garbett, Archbishop of York, speaking at a church assembly, said that the temptation would be very great for a weaker State, which possessed the atom bomb, to use it a few hours before its possible enemy. “It is merely wishful thinking that, just because a bomb is so terrible, no nation will dare use it”, he said. “The argument is clearly the other way. If such a war did take place and the atom bomb was used to prevent another nation making war, it would leave behind it a legacy of hatred and desire for revenge which would not be eradicated for centuries”. Dr Garbett contended that experience had shown that unilateral disarmament was not the way to international peace. He said that if Britain stated that she would not use the atom bomb in any circumstances, she should immediately be at the mercy of any nation which possessed the bomb. “If possession of the bomb is a deterrent to war, we nave no right to say beforehand that we shall never use it”, he added. Dr Garbett advocated an international development authority with as many nations as possible agreeing never to use the atom bomb against one another, pooling the bombs they already possessed, and uniting to apply sanctions against any nation which attempted to use the bomb.