ASIAN ATOM INSTITUTE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 13

ASIAN ATOM INSTITUTE

Offer Of Two Reactors (Rec. 12.10 a m.) SINGAPORE, October 20. The United States was prepared to present a South-east Asian atomic research institute with a reactor, Mr John Hollister, leader of the United States delegation to the Colombo Plan talks, said today. Mr Hollister said he proposed setting up a research institute, and promised that America would “contribute substantially towards it.’’ At the same session of the conference, Canada formally offered to set up a high-powered atomic reactor in • India for use by Asian members of the Colombo Plan. The offer was made by the Canadian Minister of External Affairs (Mr Lester Pearson). Mr Hollister said the United States contribution would provide funds for the training of Asian students and for laboratory facilities and equipment for research and training. It was envisaged that the Colombo Plan centre proposed by the United States would endeavour to develop essential skills and technical knowledge in the atomic field. He said that if the Colombo Plan countries supported the proposal, the United States Government would consider further steps, including the location of the centre. However, the United States was not likely to agree to any country outside the South-east Asia Collective Defence Treaty having the centre. Conference sources said that Pakistan appeared to be the most likely country for locating the research centre as it was a SEATO member, was relatively well developed industrially, and occupied a fairly central position for students from other Colombo Plan countries. It was expected that the United States would be ready to push ahead with the project early in 195 fl if a site had been agreed upon by then.