PEACEFUL USE OF ATOMS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 11

PEACEFUL USE OF ATOMS

Western Powers To Call Conference (N.Z. Press (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 5. The major Western atomic powers tonight reached virtual agreement on the terms of a resolution calling for a scientific conference next spring on peaceful uses of atomic energy, Reuters United Nations Cor* respondent reported.

The Powers concerned—the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Belgium—met after the opening of the debate on President Eisenhower's “atoms-for-peace” plan in the Political Committee of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the day.

Some representatives asked for time to obtain final instructions from their governments regarding sponsorship of the resolution.

Mr Paul Martin (Canada) said in the debate that recent Canadian studies had suggested that electric power could, “perhaps within a few years,” be produced using heat from the burning of uranium in an atomic reactor at a cost which would compete with coal at eight dollars a ton. ’ , Mr Henry Cabot Lodge (United States) offered on behalf of the United States Government to help other countries to construct and to operate abroad small research reactors which could be constructed in a year for “well under 500,000 dollars in many cases.” All Western Powers supported the establishment of an international agency for the development of peacetime uses of atomic energy and backed a call for a scientific conference next year to go intd the technical aspects of the whole question.

All offered assistance to other countries in training scientists in reactor technology and in teaching to surgeons and specialists atomic techniques used in cancer research. Sir Pierson Dixon (Britain) made an appeal to the Soviet Union to join in President Eisenhower’s “bold and practical plan.” He said it was intended to estabilish a small area of collaboration, in the hope that collaboration would grow. Mr Andrei Vyshinsky, the chief Soviet delegate, gave no indication when he would be prepared to speak in the debate. After referring to the “many hundreds of millions of pounds” spent by Britain in atomic research, Sir Pierson Dixon said that in many cases it was beyond the means of United Nations members to operate or build large atomic reactors capable of producing power. He suggested that in such cases groups of countries might pool their resources.

“For instance,” he added, “it is possible that the nations of Asia which are already partners in the Colombo Plan, could combine to build an experimental reactor of a more advanced and useful type than the resources of any single one of them would permit.” Production of Isotopes Mr Lodge, who opened the debate, said that the small reactors which the United States was prepared to help other countries in setting up would produce radio-active isotopes, the use of which offered the most advanced discoveries for human benefit. Mr Eisenhower first advanced a plan for the development of peaceful wses of atomic energy in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly last December. Bilateral negotiations were held with the Soviet Union with a view to enlisting their agreement, but so far these discussions have been fruitless.

In the meantime the United States has conducted negotiations with the other chief manufacturers or producers of atomic materials—Britain, France, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Belgium, and Portugal. They have decided to go ahead with plans f6r an international scheme for development, without the Soviet Union if necessary.

The United States delegation'placed the matter on the agenda and submitted a four-point plan which called for: (1) An interr nti?nal co-operation

agency. 2) An international scientific conference under the auspices of the United Nations to consider the whole subject. (3) The opening in the United States of a reactor training school where students from abroad might study the working principles of atomic energy with specific regard to its peacetime uses, and (4) An invitation to overseas medical and surgical experts to take part in atomic energy techniques being used in American cancer hospitals. Mr Lodge said that the international agency should:

(1) Be “created by negotiations among interested governments,” leading to a treaty that would govern its, workings. (2) Bear the same relationship to the United Nations as the 10 specialised agencies, which have their own budgets and constitutions but are linked with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. (3) Encourage world-wide research in and development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

In so doing, it should arrange for the interchange of nuclear materials and information and “prepare for the time when the use of atomic energy for~ peace becomes the predominant and perhaps the exclusive use of this great force.”

He added that all members should accept an obligation to supply materials and information for the work of the agency, financial support, facilities for open discussion and contacts among scientists.

Italian Planes Collide —Nine Italian Au- Force men were killed when two Italian reconnaissance planes collided in mid-air near Catania, in Sicily, today. The two planes, belonging to an anti-submarine squadron, collided over Lentini, a small town south of Catania. —Rome, November 6.