Editor Charges Strauss, Teller Discouraged Disarmament Talks

Until last spring, two Administration officials--Admiral Strauss and Edward Teller--completely dominated the disarmament policy of the U.S., Saville R. Davis, managing editor of the Christian Science Monitor, told the Adams House Political Forum last night.

Davis charged Strauss and Teller with adopting the thesis that "there should be no serious disarmament discussion because, even if we managed to negotiate an agreement, the Russians could find a way to get around it."

The Strauss-Teller theory, Davis said, "held that anything which diverts the minds and pocketbooks of America from preparation for the 'inevitable conflict with Russia' is treasonable."

According to Davis, Admiral Strauss held the threat of 'military secrecy' over the heads of nuclear scientists who disagreed with his policies, "while allowing Teller to tour the country explaining his point of view."

A profound change occurred in the post-Sputnik era, said Davis. "Dr. Killian and his group of scientific advisers managed to defeat the Strauss-Teller position within the Administration, and this led to the present arms control conferences."

Discussing past disarmament talks, Davis stated that Secretary of State Dulles sent Harold Stassen to the London Disarmament Conference as a "fall-guy." Dulles was forced to go through the motions of a conference by aroused public opinion in this country, Davis said.

"Our appeal today must be to the self-interest of the Kremlin leaders," he concluded. "No one wants a full-scale nuclear war."