LONDON: Generalissimo Stalin sprang a surprise on the world early today [Oct 6] when he confirmed Washington reports that Russia had made an atomic bomb test and said tests on atom bombs of various calibres would be made in future.

He accompanied the announcement with a strong attack on British and American policy on atomic weapons, which he said compelled Russia to have the atomic weapon.

But he went on to declare that America need have no grounds for alarm. Russia wanted prohibition of the atomic bomb and never contemplated attacking America or any other country.

The broadcast came just over 48 hours after the White House had announced in Washington that “another atomic bomb had recently been exploded in the Soviet Union.”

The disclosure of Russia’s first atomic explosion came simultaneously from Washington, Ottawa and London on Sept 22, 1949. It was followed two days later by a Soviet statement that building of hydro-electric stations ... which involve the necessity of large-scale blasting work with the use of the “technical means” might “attract attention beyond the confines of the Soviet Union.”— News agencies

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2026