Word: moratorium
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Such a moratorium would show the world that the United States' desire for peace is more than a meaningless mass of words. It would be a concrete gesture for an abandoning of bombtesting and possibly for a distinct turn towards developing the atom for peace, and would raise the United States in the estimation of those countries who view her as something considerably less than a world-peace symbol...
Russia has stated that she will cooperate on such a bomb-moratorium if the United States is willing. Many government officials claim that it would be disastrous, in light of past Russian behavior, to agree to such a proposal. However, it appears that if the United States and Russia are ever going to get along together in the world, someone will have to make the first active gesture. America could do this by declaring a two-year trial moratorium which would test Russia's sincerity and reassure the rest of the world of America's good will...
Since any H-bomb testing by one nation is detectable by another, violations of the moratorium would be immediately evident to all the nations involved. In any case, it is doubtful if a nation would gain by breaking the moratorium, since the power of the H-bomb is so great that it appears to have reached a practical power-limit...
...Broadly suggested again that the U.S. should end the draft, which he described as "wasteful, inefficient, and often unfair." Then he hedged his bets, called for "a fresh and open-minded look at the weapons revolution and the whole problem of military manpower." ¶Proposed a moratorium on H-bomb tests; the U.S. can detect Russian violations, and if "the Russians don't go along, then at least the world will know we tried...
Even beyond the shores of the U.S. the picture was brighter. There were clear indications that Communism is in deep trouble. But while the U.S. basked under a warm sun and enjoyed its moratorium on nagging worry, there were reminders that summer and its mood are never eternal. Neutralism continued on the upswing among nervous nations. As a result, the unity and strength of the Western world, and particularly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, were in danger. In the Middle East, the quiet was temporary and could easily be shattered...