Evening star., 1946-02-03
Truman Letter Urges
Mcmahon 10 Speed
Atom Control Measure

President Truman called yester-
day for utmost speed" in the en-
action of domestic legislation on
atomic energy. urging that control
of the atom in the United States
be vested in a three-man full-time
civilian commission.
Domestic and international
issues of the first Importance wait
upon this action he said.
The President set forth his views
In a letter to Chairman Mcmahon
of the Senate Special Committee
on Atomic Energy which Senator
Mcmahon said may conclude it's
hearings in 10 days. He indorsed
the principles of the control bill
introduced by Senator Mcmahon
and based his opinions largely on
evidence presented in the COM
mittee's hearings.
OF Paramount Importance.
The text of President Truman's
letter follows:
You have requested my views on
s. TIT, bill for the domestic de-
velopment and control of atomic
energy. wish to give you my
thoughts at this time because I con-
slider the subject of paramount i'm
portance and urgency, both from
the standpoint of our welfare at
home and that of achieving a dur
able peace throughout the world.
Il appreciate the thorough and i'm
partial manner in which atomic en-
ergy hearings have been held before
your committee. I believe that the
hearings, in keeping with demo-
cratic traditions, have aided the
people in obtaining a clearer insight
into the problems which such leg
islation must meet.
You will recall I sent a special
message to the Congress on Octo-
Der 3, 1945, calling for legislation
to fix policy for the domestic con-
troll OF atomic energy Since then 1
have given considerable time to the
further study of this most difficult
subject. I have had the advantage
OF additional technical information
and expressions of public opinion
developed at the hearings.
Essentials of Legislation.
with this background I feel pre-
pared to recommend in greater de-
tail than before what I believe to
De the essential elements of sound
atomic energy legislation:
Il. A commission established by
the Congress for the control of
atomic energy should be composed
exclusively of civilians. This should
not be interpreted to disqualify for
rner military personnel from mem
bership, and Is in accord with estab-
iished American principles embodi-
ed In our statutes since 1870. I
would prefer three-man commits
sion In lieu Of a larger group which
administrative experience has shown
unWieidy. 1t is essential that the
members of the commission be full
time Government employees.
2. The Government must be the
exclusive owner and producer of
fashionable materials. Fissionable
materials are, Of course, to be dis
from which fashionable materials
from which fashionable amterials
may be derived. BY fashionable ma
teriak, mean such as U235, OF
plutonium, or any substance enrich
ed In these beyond its natural state }
1t follows that there should be no
private patents in this field of ex-
elusive Government activity.
Monopoly No Danger.
The disadvantage of Government
monopoly are small compared to the
danger of permitting any one other
than the Government to own or pro-
duce these crucial substances, the
use OF which affects the safety of the
entire Nation. The benefits OF
atomic energy are the heritage OF
the people; they should be distribut.
ed as widely as possible.
3. Consistent with these princi.
pies 1t is essential that devices
utilizing atomic energy be made
fully available for private develop.
ment through compulsory, non.
exclusive licensing of private patents
and regulation of royalty fees tc
insure their reasonableness. These
provisions will assure widespread
distribution of the benefits of atomic
energy while preserving the royalt,
incentive to maintain the interes,
OF private enterprise.
a. In my message of October 3
I wrote:
Our science and industry owe
their strength to the spirit of
free inquiry and the spirit of
free enterprise that characterize
our country -. (This) is our
best guaranty of maintaining the
preeminence in science and in
dustry upon which our national
well-being depends"
Freedom of Research.
Legislation in this field mus
assure genuine freedom to conduct
independent research and mus