CONTROL OF ATOM

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1945, Page 5

CONTROL OF ATOM

BY U.S.A. COMMISSION

Urged by Mr Truman

(Rec. 8.30.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 4. President Truman, in a message to Congress, recommended the establishment of an Atomic Energy Commission, to be appointed by the riesident of Congress, to control the development of atomic energy lor industrial and other peace purposes. Mff Truman said he intended' to give, later, a message dealing with international aspects of the atomic bomb. Mr. Truman said the atomic bomb did not win, the war, but shortened it. He said the discovery of means of releasing atomic energy began a new era in the history of civilisation, which must, some day, prove more revolutionary in the development of human society than the invention of the wheel, the use of metals and of steam,, or the use oi internal combustion engines. He said. “We can use knowledge we have now, not for devastation and war, but for future welfare of humanity. To accomplish that objective we must proceed along two fronts, domestic and international. Ihe nrst is the most urgent. If there is to be a determination of domestic policy for the control, use and development of atomic energy within the United States, we cannot postpone decisions in this field. It was an enormous investment we made to produce the bomb. It’ has given us two vast industrial plants, in Washington and in Tennessee, and many associated works throughout the country. It has brought together a vast organisation of scientists, executives, industrial engineers, and skilled workers. Powers which Congress wisely gave to the Government to wage war were adequate to permit the creation and development of this enterprise as a wai project. Now that enemy has surrendered, we should take 1 mediate action to provide for the future use of this huge investment in brains and plant. Persons on whom depend the continued successlul op eration of plants and further development of atomic knowledge are getting ready to return to normtil pui•suits. Prompt, action to establish a national policy will go a long way toward keeping a strong organisation intact. It is equally necessary to direct future research and to establish control of the basic raw materials essential to the development ot this power Whether it is to be used lor purposes of peace or war, atomic force in ignorant or evil hands could inflict untold disaster upon the nation and the world. Society cannot hone even to protect itself, much less realise beneiits from the discovery, unless prompt action is taken to guard against hazards oi misuse. I urge, as a first measure in a programme of utilising our knowlccige for the benefit of society,, that Congress enact legislation to fix a policy respecting our existing plants, and respecting the control of all sources of atomic energy, and all activities connected with its development and use in the United States.. Legislation should give jurisdiction for these purposes, to an Atomic Energy Commission, with members appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The other phase of the problem is the question ol international control and development ol this newly-discovered energy. The release of atomic energy in international relations constitutes a new force that is too revolutionary to be considered in the framework of old ideas. We can no longer rely on the slow progress of time to develop a programme of control among nations. Civilisation demands that we shall reach at the earliest possible date, a satisfactory arrangement for the control of this discovery, so that it may become a powerful, forceful influence, towards maintenance of world peace, instead of an instrument of destruction. Scientific opinion appears to be practically unanimous that the essential theoretical knowledge upon which the discovery is based already widely known., There is also substantial agreement that foreign research can come abreast of our present theoretical knowledge in time. The hope of civilisation lies in international arrangements looking, if possible, to the reduction of the use and the development of the atomic bomb, and to directing and encouraging the use of atomic energy and all future scientific information towards peaceful humanitarian ends. The difficulties in working out such arrangements are great. The alternative to overcoming them, however, may be a desperate armament race, which might well end in disaster. Discussion of the international problem cannot be safely delayed until the United Nations 5 Organisation is functioning, and in a position adequately to deal with it.

“I propose that these 1 discussions will not be concerned with disclosures relating to the manufacturing process leading to the production of the atomic bomb itself. They will constitute an effort to work out arrangements covering tqrms under which international collaboration and exchange of scientific information might safely proceed.” (Rec. 12.10.) COPENHAGEN, Oct. 4. Professor Niels Bohr, one of the leading scientists in the development of the atomic bomb, last night told fellow scientists here that he believed there was no possible defence against the weapon. Dr. Bohr gave the first idea of the fantastic effort required to produce atomic energy. He said it required a big factory with an extensive laboratory to produce one millionth of a milligram of special uranium used. I-Ie said: “The United States can produce three kilogrames daily, but kou never saw the like of the plants required to do so.”