Partnership In Atomic Weapons

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 5

Partnership In Atomic Weapons

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (Recd. 6 p.m.)—American, British, and Canadian negotiators have drafted a tentative new atomic partnership agreement, whereunder research secrets would be shared, but the United States alone would produce atomic bombs, diplomatic quarters said today.

The keystone of the agreement is that Britain and Canada are willing to give up any idea of producing bombs of their own in return for relaxation of United States secrecy rules, which have limited post-war exchange of atomic weapons and information. The importance of the agreement to the United States is that it removes a potential threat to the nation’s supply of foreign uranium ores. Britain, under long-standing treaties, has a right, which it has never so far Invoked, to receive half of the output of the rich uranium mines in the Belgian Congo and Northern Canada, which are the main United States sources of high grade atomic raw materials.—United Press.