RESEARCH WORK IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 2

RESEARCH WORK IN BRITAIN

U.S. scientist urges STIMULATION (Special Correspondent W.Z.PjLJ

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, August 31. Criticism of British scientific research work was made by Dr. Charles Thomas, president of the American Chemical Society and one of the leading American scientists concerned with the production of the first atomic bomb, when he told a London Press conference that he had fears about whether in Britain and some Continental countries, fundamental Scientific research was continuing as intensely as in the past. Dr. Thomas praised Britain’s wartime contribution to the production of the atom bomb, but added that while Britain excelled in fundamental research, America apparently excelled in its application. “We are greatly concerned about the universities in Britain and on the Continent because unless fundamental knowledge is continuing, then the mainspring of all technology will die. I hope Britain will stimulate her fundamental scientific studies. Without them the Western Powers are going to be handicapped in the future. “The Russians seem to have a grasp of the problem. No one knows, at least I don’t, the calibre of the scientific people in Russia; but we know they are turning out more men than ever before in their history and making every effort to enable these men to continue their education in the natural sciences.”

Civil Use of Atomic Energy

Dr. Thomas said the United States Atomic Energy Commission planned to share important secrets with eight private companies to see whether a workable plan could be devised to make atomic energy available to the public without interrupting the bomb programme. The companies would try to find out whether private enterprise could make a profit from generating electricity by this method. They would provide the capital for the atomic pile needed, while the Government would have the sole right to all material products. Such an arrangement would ensure a continual and considerable supply of plutonium for bomb-making or use in power units.

It was doubtful whether such proposals would meet with approval in Britain at present because of the policy of nationalisation, Dr. Thomas said. “I think the tendency towards nationalisation and Government monopoly is one of the most distressing things I know. You create a big bureaucracy and in 20 years the industry concerned has become' atrophied.” Under the new United States scheme uranium, supplied by the United States Government, would be manufactured into plutonium and the enormous heat and energy resulting as a by-product, would be turned into electric power for sale by the manufacturers, 'he said.