Britain Urged To Lead Empire In Atom Energy

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 10

Britain Urged To Lead Empire In Atom Energy

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, April 23.

Britain’s prompt development of nuclear power was not only necessary for her own economic prosperity, but the nuclear resources of the Commonwealth at her disposal gave her the opportunity to lead the world, says Mr Bernard Braine, M.P., writing in the fortnightly “New Commonwealth.”: He urged Britain to see that the Commonwealth countries did not look to America rather than to Britain for atomic leadership. Mr Braine said many Commonwealth countries, whose scientists had contributed much to Britain’s own atomic progress, were also advancing along the with the added advantage of possessing the basic raw materials. Canada would have a nuclear power station operating by 1958, Australia was building a nuclear reactor and South Africa and New Zealand were well equipped to make a substantial contribution to the common pools of knowledge and material resources. Commonwealth Unity But to move forward and to reap the reward of knowledge of atomic energy would require readiness upon the part of individual Commonwealth countries to pull together as they had never done before. “This in itself poses a question of some magnitude. It is significant that the Commonwealth countries, which for decades have resisted the idea o* entering into formal military and political pacts, are now doing so, but on a regional, notna Commonwealth basis. Their relations with one another

remain loose and informal. Even Britain has committed herself to keeping troops in Europe, which must to some considerable extent limit her freedom of action elsewhere.

“Such developments may put a strain on Commonwealth loyalties. They will certainly tend to exert pressures which could weaken Commonwealth unity.

“Everything depends, therefore, upon the degree of leadership the Mother Country displays—especially in' the field of nuclear energy. We have begun amazingly well, but if we fail to apply the knowledge and experience already gained by our scientists and engineers to constructive tasks of Commonwealth development, there is an acute danger of the Commonwealth partners, already ’attracted by the magnetic pull of the American economy and thankful for the protecting umbrella of American military power, might look to the United States rather, than to. oqrselves for guidance, advice and equipment. May be this is unduly pessimistic. May be it underestimates what already has been achieved.

“Perhaps the Commonwealth is moving into an exciting new era where it will play second fiddle to no other Power-grouping and can exert an influence for good in the world on a scale which none of us, even in our wildest dreams, has ever thought possible. Whatever the truth of the matter, it is clear that Providrence has given the British Commonwealth a breathtaking opportunity to lead the world into better times. We must not fail to grasp it.”