Scientists Press For Agreement On Atom

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1947, Page 7

Scientists Press For Agreement On Atom

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

March 7.

THE British Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin) will find awaiting him in Moscow an urgent communication from a committee of distinguished British atomic scientists and politicians urging him to raise immediately with Marshal Stalin and Mr Marshall vital questions of agreement on atomic energy and a plan for control which can be imposed throughout the world, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent.

The committee, in a statement, declares it believes: "We shall face a desperate world situation” unless strict international control is established over atomic energy within the Very near future.

United aNtions Atomic Energy Commission composed of leading scientists of 12 countries, and in the Security Council, have shown that international control is a practical possibility. They reveal that the issues dividing the powers have been narrowed to three. REMAINING ISSUES These are: (1) The time at which the pact prohibiting manufacture of atomic weapons shall become operative. (2) The timing and nature of the stages whereby an international authority is to take control of raw materials and plants. (3) The question whether the Security Council’s measures against violators of the control plan shall be subject to Big Power veto. “We believe these differences can be resolved by the negotiation of a comprehensive plan which, besides banning atomic weapons from national armouries, establishes an international atomic authority, defines its powers of control and inspection, and specifies a timetable for assumption of these powers.”

It calls for a master plan that will resolve international differences on atomic energy and be embodied forthwith in an international convention. The committee includes Mr A. S. Massey, also Lord Brabazon, and the following members of Parliament: Messrs Clement Davies (Lib.). Raymond Blackburn (Lab.), Michael Foot (Lab.). Harold Nicholson (Con.), and David Grenfell, former Labour Mines Secretary.

NOT INSOLUBLE Contending that statements by the Big Three Powers on international control of atomic energy do not disclose any differences in princinle which are necessarily insoluble, the committee says Russia has accepted the principle of international inspection unhampered by veto. Moreover, discussions in the scientific and technical sub-committee of the