NEW ATOM WEAPONS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28421, 30 October 1957, Page 13

NEW ATOM WEAPONS

Agreement To Share Work N Z Press Association—Copyright) 'Rec. 11 p.m.) The t— Y ° RK ' Stober 29 p™* U u n 'L ed S ‘ ates and Great Britain had agreed in principle *l° ! he responsibility for dev eloping future atomic weapons, today eW Y ° rk TimeS ” re P° rted

The newspaper said that under the agreement, it understood the United States would concentrate on developing certain types of atomic weapons while the British would work on other types of nuclear warheads. The allies would share the information obtained m their separate research and development projects. The “New’ York Times" said this concept of divided but joint responsibility for future atomic weapons development was explained by Administration officials in Washington. The basic agreement for cooperative atomic weapons development was reached last week in the talks between President Eisenhower and the British Prime Minister <Mr H. Macmillan).

Before the agreement could be carried out, however, it must be approved by Congress, which must change the atomic energy law of 1954. the newspaper said. It said the agreement faced a searching and probably critical examination by the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic { Energy, which in the past had { been reluctant to divulge Ameri-i can atomic weapons’ secrets to other nations. “Facing Stiff Battle" The “New York Times” added: “The Administration is aware that it faces a stiff battle in Congress. but has decided, with the indirect assistance of the Soviet sputnik, to make a fight for a change in the atomic energy law provisions dealing with atomic weapons information. “In the ‘declaration of common purpose' issued after the Big Two talks last week. President Eisenhower said he would request Congress to amend the atomic energy law ‘as may be necessary and desirable to permit the close and {fruitful collaboration of the scientI ists and engineers of Great Britain. the United States, and other friendly countries.’ ”

To carry out lhe atomic weapons collaboration, it would be necessary for the two countries to exchange information developed in the past and in the future about atomic weapons, the paper said. It added. “While the United States undoubtedly has far more information about atomic weapons than Britain. Administration officials do not feel that it would be a completely one-sided exchange. The British, it is felt, in the course of their atomic weapons development programme. Imav have acquired some information which may be invaluable when pieced together with this nation already knows. And United States officials acknowledge that some British atomic scientists are unexcelled in their field.