CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 5

CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY

TASK FOR UNITED NATIONS

BRITAIN, U.S. AND CANADA AGREE ON MATTER OF POLICY

Reed. 6 p.m. Washington, Nov. 15 President Truman, Mr. Attlee and Mr. Mackenzie King have reached an agreement on atomic policy. They propose the formation of a United Nations commission to control the threat of atomic destruction. Specialised information regarding the practical application of atomic energy will not be shared before it is possible to devise effective reciprocal, enforceable safeguards acceptable to all nations. A communique issued by the three leaders states:

“We recognise th.?.t the application cf recent scientific discoveries to the methods and practice of war has

’placed at the disposal of mankind a means of destruction hitherto unknown. against which there can be no adequate military defence, and in the employment of which no single ration can in fact have a monopoly. We desire to emphasise that responsibility for devising means to ensure trat the new discoveries shall be used for the benefit of mankind, instead of as a means of destruction, rest not v- ith our nations alone, but upon the;

whole civilised world. Nevertheless, the progress we have made in the development and use of atomic energy demands that we take the initiative < ’we have accordingly met to conthe possibility of international

t m. firstly to prevent the use or r.iomic energy for destructive purposes, and secondly to promote the use of recent and future advances in scientific knowledge, particularly in the utilisation of atomic energy, for peaceful humanitarian ends.

“We are aware that the onlv complete protection for the civilised world from the destructive use of scientific knowledge lies in the prevention of war,” adds the statement. “No system of safeguards devisable will of itself provide an effective guarantee against the production of atomic weapons by a nation bent on aggression, nor can we ignore the possibility of development of other weapons or new methods of warfare which may constitute as great a threat to civilisation as the military use of atomic energy. “Representing as we do the three countries possessing the knowledge essential to the use of atomic energy*, we declare our willingness, as a first contribution, to proceed with an exchange of fundamental scientific information and an interchange of scientists and scientific literature for peaceful ends with any nation that will fully reciprocate. Wg believe that the fruits of scientific research should be made available to all nations, and that freedom of investigation and free interchange of ideas are essential to the progress of knowledge. In pursuance of this policy, basic scientific information essential to the development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes has already made available to the world. It is our intention that all further information of this character that may become available shall be similarly treated. We trust that other nations will adopt the same policy, thereby creating an atmosphere of reciprocal conference in which political agreement and co-operation will flourish.

MILITARY EXPLOITATION “We have considered the questxm of the disclosure of detailed information concerning the practical industrial application of atomic energy’. The military exploitation of atomic energy depends largely upon the same methods and process required for industrial uses. We are not convinced that the spreading of specialised information regarding the practical application of atomic energy before it is possible to devise effective, reciprocal, enforceable safeguards acceptable to all nations, would contribute to a constructive solution of the problem of the atomic bomb. On the contrary, we think it might have the opposite effect. However, we are prepared to share on a reciprocal basis with others of the United Nations detailed information concerning the practical industrial application of atomic energy as soon as effective, enforceable safeguards against its use for destructive purposes can be devised. “In order to attain the most effective means of entirely eliminating the use of atomic energy for destructive purposes and promoting its widest use for industrial and humanitarian purposes. we are of the opinion that at the earliest nracticable date a commission should be established unde, the United Nations Organisation tn pre. pare recommendation; for submission to the organisation. The commission should be instructed to proceed with the utmost dispatch and be authorised to submit recommendations dealing with the separate phase of its work. COMMISSION’S JOB “The commission particularly should make specific proposals, firstly for extending between- all nations an exchange o; basic scientific information for peaceful ends, secondly for the control of atomic energy to the extent necessary to ensure its use only for peaceful purposes, thirdly lor the elimination national armaments of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass production, and fourthly for effective safeguards by way of inspection and othei means to protect complying States against the hazards of violations ana evasions. The work of the commission should proceed by separate stages, the successful completion of each of whiCii will develop the necessary confidence of the world before the next stage is undertaken. Specifically, it is considered that the commission might well devote its attention, firstly, to a wide exchange of scientists and scientific information: secondly, to the development of full knowledge concerning natural resources of raw materials. , Faced with the terrible realities o; the application of science to destruc-j tion, every nation will realise more urgently than before the overwhelming need to maintain the rule of law among nations and banish the scourge of war from the earth. This can only ne orc ight about bv giving wholehearted support to the United Nations Organisation, and bv consolidatand extending it s authority, thus rtjeatlng conditions of mutual trust, in which all peoples will be free to drvote themselves to the arts of peace. It is our firm resolve to work wit -: out reservation to achieve these ends.” After reading the joint communique In *he House of Commons, Mr. Morrison said: “I for! sure that the House generally will take mv view that this •vnuld not be a moment to discuss it. or If I may say so with great timidity and r-’spoct. even to pursue it by wav of r icstion and answer. There will n opportunity for a debate in the •re -m affairs debate.” Mr. Ecten said he entirely agreed Wnft the Lord .Towitt read the communique in the Ho’w nf Lords.