Atomic Bomb Secrets

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 5

Atomic Bomb Secrets

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NEW YORK, Fri. (11 a.m.)— A “mysterious” meeting last night between President Truman and key American policy-makers was on the question of giving Britain technical information on production of atomic bombs, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. It was learned that no decisions were made during the meeting, “unlbss the President came to some determination that he did not disclose,” adds the correspondent. The conference was reported to have resulted from a majority recommendation of the Atomic Energy Commission to grant a British request for information that would enable that country to produce the atomic bomb on British soil.

Britain is known to have practically all of the scientific and technical background needed to manufacture the bomb, having collaborated closely with the United States in its development in the United States.

Metallurgical techniques involved in the final process of bomb-making, however, are reported to be giving them trouble now, and it is on this that they are seeking help. Any decision to give information to Britain would require an act of Congress. The present law forbids disclosure of atomic information to other countries. , DELICATE PROBLEM ‘ The United Press Washington correspondent says the problem facing Mr Truman is delicate because Britain and Canada, who were full partners in the wartime development of the atomic bomb, now are reported to be bitter about the United States’ monopoly on the weapon’s production. The correspondent says officials today would not deny that atomic relations between the United States and Britain and Canada were badly strained, and that senior American officials were deeply concerned.