SEARCH FOR MARKETS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 11

SEARCH FOR MARKETS

“U.S. and Britain In Race” (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. A race between Britain and America in developing, nuclear power stations and attempting to capture the world’s atomic markets is developing at the International Atomic Energy conference and trade fair, says the Geneva correspondent of the “Financial Times.” “The growing stress of this competition,” he says, “has been emphasised by both British and American scientists and by the initial impact of the Commercial exhibits at the fair. “During the last few days this competition for international markets has become intensified beyond anything that seemed possible even a few months ago. “The British exhibition has played a considerable part in arousing the feeling of anxiety which has been expressed by a number of American companies and scientists in the field of atomic energy. “Inquiries, which show the interest which is developing already, had been received by British companies from more than 30 countries before the exhibition opened. These countries in.clude the United States, France, Sweden, China, Japan, the Lebanon, Egypt and other North African countries and in the field of nuclear instruments, irom Germany. “A certain amount of anxiety among British exhibitors has, however, been aroused by. the United States offer of uranium fuel and there is a strong feeling among industrial companies that the British Government must be prepared to supply fuel when orders are received. “It is understood that, in fact, fuel will be made available for any orders obtained, although the cost of uranium fuel is higher than that quoted by the United States—a fact which is not surprising since the American offer would seem to involve a considerable subsidy. “The United States offer is in fact interpreted as an attempt to regain the initiative in the commercial atomic dftergy field from Britain.”