Arma Virosque

In the pronouncement of eighteen top West German physicists against participation in their country's nuclear armament, some old bugbears have returned to haunt the very NATO powers who created them. Germany's post-war indoctrination against militarism, this time coupled with radioactive fall-out fears, have prompted the most effective political protests by scientists in a long time.

As an action by laymen who "could not remain silent on all political questions," their statement is courageous, perhaps even noble, Yet while the scientists seemed to be concerned about the social implications of their research, they have taken a rather short-sighted view of the political results of their protests Democrats and Free Democrats have used the effects of broadcasted atomic fears upon Germany's people as a torch in their campaign against Adenauer. Moreover, the move has threatened to nullify the Government's plan to reduce manpower by some 300,000 men and re-form Germany's seven divisions into highly mobile units.

Already possessing conventional forces, West Germany has been committed, because of her location, to a "deter or die" position. Nuclear armaments promise to strengthen deterrent power; while Germany will be wiped out anyway, in the event of war.

Thus by objecting to nuclear arms for Germany alone, the scientists have adopted a narrow, somewhat unrealistic and unresponsible viewpoint.

Although the physicists' stand is weak, its courage may untimately produce helpful political results. Their sane concern for German citizens has furnished a cautious groundwork for the inevitable trend towards nuclear weapons in Germany and throughout NATO. Assuming that they will eventually agree to military work, the scientists should be given an opportunity to express doubt over future dangerous policies. Instead of being rushed too quickly into bomb research projects, the eighteen may now be given opportunity to continue work on hydrogen fusion at laboratory-induced temperatures--a promising German discovery in the peacetime nuclear field. Their protest has again shown the sensitive nature of Germans towards rearmament; rearmament whose nuclear aspects should be under strict NATO control.

If the scientists remain adament in their stand, the United States may be eventually forced to drop its ruling against sharing atomic warheads. NATO's ground force is rapidly losing its power to unify individual nations, and such a spirit of overseas cooperation might be good. In any case, scientists and politicians alike must realize that a new age of nuclear armament has dawned--there are no easy answers on either side.