Evening star., 1946-03-20

ocA1o1oA 1hSACiuoopcI, tcpuOll'
can, Of Iowa says the Nations
atomic energy secrecy has been con.
stantly endangered, possibly moi
by a flood of spies, but at least
by one man" who he said had &C
cess to secret information.
Senator Hickenlooper said he re-
ferred to DR.. Alan Mum May, Brit
ish physicist arrested in London re-
Gently on charges - of divulgine
atomic information.
Speaking during floor debate on
atomic control legislation yesterday
Senator Hickenlooper read a letter
about DR.. May from Maj. Gen. Les
lie r. Groves, head Of the Man
haitian district project, who wrote
in response to the Senator's in
quiries.
Doubts Specific knowledge.
Gen. Groves said Dr.sMay, a Cam
bridge University graduate en-
ployed in the Montreal laboratories
of the Canadian National Research
Council, had paid three visits in
1914 to the metallurgical laboratory
Of the University Of Chicago, which
was engaged in atomic research for
the United States Government.
"It is very doubtful If May has
anything more than a general know
ledge of the construction Of the
atomic bomb" Gen. Groves wrote.
He added, however:
He could have furnished to some
unauthorized person small samples
of plutonium and U235 of unknown
purity and degree of enrichment"
Remarking that even a general
knowledge of the construction of
the bomb was dangerous, Senator
Hickenlooper said he thought unde-
served criticism had been heaped on
those trying to preserve the sane
tity OF American defense"
Asserting he was not attempting
ito indict any class or group of
men," Senator Hickenlooper added:
But I did make an inquiry to
show that this Nations secrecy in
the atomic energy field constantly
has been endangered-possibly not
by flood of spies, but at least by
this man, who had access to secret
information, ="
Meanwhile, the Senate Atomic
Energy Committee announced ten
tative" completion of its control bill.
At the same time, Senator VAN
denberg, Republican, of Michigan,
author Of an amendment setting up
a military liaison board to check on
actions Of the flve-man civilian COM
mission, said there is amazing"
confusion over its intent.
Insisting that civilian control re-
mains intact, Senator Vandenberg
said the military group has no vote,
no veto and no affirmative power" !"
Chairman Mcmahon, who was
alone in voting against the Vanden-
berg amendment in the committee,
renewed his opposition. He contend
ed the amendment would turn con-
troll over to the military and set UP
q military censorship over atomic
developments.
Farley Planned Here.
The Rev. A. Powell Davies, WASH
ington clergyman, announced that
representatives of SO national or
ganizations will meet here tomorrow
to fight the vandenberg amend
ment and any other efforts to pre-
vent effective civilian control of
atomic energy" Mr.. Davies, chair
man of a new National Emergency
Committee for Control of Atomic
Energy, said Senator McMahon and
Representative Helen Gahagan
Douglas, Democrat, of California
would assist in strategy.
Five members of the Federation of
American Scientists who identified
them5elves as connected with de-
velopment Of the atomic bomb, is
suedfa statement saying that aver.
age citizens have no conception OF
the repressive measures the War
Department keeps hanging over the
heads of nuclear physicists and
other wartime scientists" The
statement was signed by Albert
Calm, ljr.; w. A. Higinbotham, Miss
Joan linton, DR.. Aaron Novick and
j. H. Bush.
Members of the Senate commit.
tee expect to send the bill to the
f1ooE, next week. Only major prob.
lens not decided are the penalties
70 be imposed for violation o1