MISSING ATOM SCIENTIST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 7

MISSING ATOM SCIENTIST

MINISTER’S VIEW OF DISAPPEARANCE LONDON, November fl. The British Minister of Supply (Mr George Strauss) told Parliament today that he had no doubt that Dr. Bruno Pontecorvo, the missing British atom scientist was in Russia. Mr Strauss added that he had no conclusive evidence of the professor’s whereabouts. Dr. Pontecorvo worked at the Harwell atom research station. With hie Swedish wife and three children he

was on holiday in Italy when he flew to Stockholm and then on to Helsinki on September 2. He has not be*si heard of since then. The Minister said that on August 27, when his leave expired. Dr. Pontecorvo wrote a note to Harwell stating that he had had trouble with his car, but he hoped to be back in time for • conference to be held on September • and 8. A message was sent to him asking him to visit a gathering of scientist in Switzerland on cosmic ray work, in which he had specialised. It was his failure to pay this visit and to communicate further with Harwell that first gave cause for concern. Mr Strauss said it \*%s not known at the time Dr. Pontecorvo was fl*»t employed at Harwell that he had a relative who was connected with the Communist Party. So far «s was known he took no documents with him.