ATTLEE WILL VISIT WASHINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24712, 1 November 1945, Page 5

ATTLEE WILL VISIT WASHINGTON

Talks With President On Atomic Energy STATEMENT IN COMMONS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) . (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 30. The Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) confirmed in the House of Commons torday that he would shortly visit Washington to discuss with President Truman and the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) problems arising from the discovery of* atomic energy. ' Mr Attlee said that the chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee (Sir John Anderson) was accompanying him in an advisory capacity. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Churchill) said he hoped the talks would not be limited to a particular topic, but would range over everything which would lead to good relations between Britain and America., Mr D. Kirkwbod (Labour) asked Mr Attlee: "Isn't it time, now you are going to have conversations, to call in Russia?" Mr Attlee replied: "I think it is better to take these tilings by stages." , The diplomatic correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says that official quarters in London emphasise that the main theme of the talks between Mr Attlee and Mr Truman will be atomic energy, and,not foreign affairs. 4 A message from Washington says-ihat Mr Attlee will arrive there early in November.- He will probably fly both ways. Although Mr Attlee will stay some time at the White House, it is not known whether he will address a joint session of Congress. The talks are not expected to develop into a full-scale conference like those between Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt at Washington and Quebec.

Mr Herbert Morrison, 'Lord Presi-.; dent of the Council, replying to the debate in the House of Commons on ■ the atomic bomb's potentialities, in which many members discussed ' the implications of atomic energy,''.. said that the members who had raised this important "and vital subjectcould be : sure that their observations would be reported to the Prime Minister. "He-' would keep them in .mind,' 'together '-'■" with the many observations which iißd < been made in various quarters' about ;,; this startling and in many respects dts- - turbing discovery—a discovery .which,]- ~ on the other hand, »was -encouraging' by virtue of its having certain possibilities. ; ..' ..." -,'..;•.,-./ It was certain;.he said, thatvthere: was a highly explosivei weapon,which was a new factor not only in the art ~ of war, but in international politics v and the organisation of /international ,' ,: peace. ■' .'.;<•', .- . ; \;.„'..'.' •-.- /.■' - . ■ ,■;■<-.?, "I think the House will-. generally V appreciate that it would not l>e helpful if just before the Prime' Minister is going to the Unite'd States to con-. . fer with President, the;. British Government' were to make a compre-,. hensive statement;" 'said Mr MOrrisbn; - He'added: "Our work on the atomic ■; bomb has been in the closest possible v consultation with the, United States. Britain has made an extremely'; - im- - portant contribution to research in '; atomic energy.--Our scientists, as well Vas United States scientists,: have played - ; .. a' great part'in the development.'of ■ this vast and significant discovery.-: "The war, made other : demands' on our economy. It was' consequently -:X-. agreed that the United States, which r was a" -safe distance from'-ihe, enemy, " would be desirable for ..'.'the vwork;ln- '■''-, volved. We--gave all the help wei .could by the contributiotK of' first- V •class scientific- abiUty.i.lt?is,now;the;? ■ natural wfcrh of I the .-,Government to make; plans for-#ie. development of .'>'• the process in Britain.*'. :.-"•. ' V Mr Morrison added that it was: clear that the Government could not deal; .1 with, policy in this business in' a -cur- ,'■' sory way. -It must be dealt with on the highest level.. .V . .', :"/',,( "Giving Us a Headache";}v . "Its foreign policy aspects andtmUi- v. tary potentialities are I-con- ' ; fessHt is giving us a headache,*? -he * said. "If we therefore cisnnot make- f up-xmr minds in five minutes dh-a ' way out of these problems,.we can- ■ not be blamed. It is better-to carefully and .arrive at a. right v tioh than dash, in and make errors; : : "We have to wrestle with, this head-' ■ ache and ; think but policiesby which •?■-.-. the new ' invention; • does < not'hecOme ! ! a' dangerous menace to all nations and ; possibly even to the international or« i ganisation itself. We have to consider - - : how we can tie this up with foreign policy and with the organisation's se-' ": curity, or to take steps by which .. nobody, is likely! to use,it. 'il can onjy say that the whole problem of atomic power has the attention of His Majesty's Government at the highest, level.- Thev Government intends to maintain high' standards in fundamental'research.

"We shall be as much concerned \ with the peaceful aspects as with the; - military possibilities.; There are difficulties in making use of atomic power; as industrial power, but no one-with authoritative knowledge of the subject has any doubt.that the difficulties will be overcome."

Mr Morrison said that the British programme of research ,and largescale development needed most careful planning, and the Government was making that, careful planning. British scientific manpower wad; limited. It ' was essential that the best use be' ; made'of it. Mr'Attlee's conversations with Mr Truman would riot be limited to the scientific method of releasing . atomic energy. The discussions would be full and comprehensive.

U.S. DEVELOPMENT OF ATOM BILL TO ESTABLISH COMMISSION {Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 30. The Military Affairs Committee of the united States House of Representatives has approved a bill sponsored by the Administration establishing a nine-man Commission to supervise the domestic development of atomic power. * "The Commission would be empowered to acquire the necessary mineral deposits and other properties, and would permit scientists to experiment freely in the field of atomic energy, provided that their operations "did not constitute-a national hazard." The Commission would be unable to deal with foreign interests without Presidential approval., - The bill's original restrictions on - scientific research were modified considerably at the request of prominent scientists. • /- THREAT TO USE BOMB MOSCOW ALLEGES DEMAND BY TURKEY LONDON, October 30. If .the. United States-allowed- the atomic bomb to influence its foreign policy there could be no lasting peace, declared tne Moscow radio's political commentator, in a broadcast. He asserted that the Turkish Prime Minister (Sukru Saracoglu) had told a correspondent that the United States should not waste the opportunity, but take advantage of its monopoly of the atomic bomb secret. The Moscow commentator added: "Turkey demands that Britain and America should deliver an ultimatum to Bulgaria, Hungary and Jugoslavia, backed up with the threat of the atomic bomb. Obviously you cannot have lasting peace with a policy like that."