Evening star., 1946-07-15
Fear Of Atomic War
Is Key 10 Control,
Wallace Tells Farley
By Thomas R. Henry

Dread of a surprise atomic war in
which millions would be killed in
a single night must be behind any
plan for control of atomic energy.
Secretary of Commerce Wallace told
Institute on World Control of Atomic
Energy meeting today at the Interior
Department Auditorium. Today is
the first anniversary Of the explo-
sion of the first bomb in the New
Mexican desert.
Further steps are difficult, he said,
while there remains the possibility
Of international hySterla and fear"
This not only stands in the way of
preventing war itself but of develop
ment of atomic energy for peace
purposes, Mr.. Wallace stressed.
Much the same idea was expressed
by DR.. Philip Morrison, Cornell
physics professor. who was engaged
as A scientist on the Manhattan en-
gineer project and who went to the
Pacific as an observer when the
first bomb was dropped on Japan
He stressed special doubts over the
possibility of keeping much mate
rial secret very long
Early in September he went to
Japan One of his first contacts
was Prof Nishina. Japan's fore
most expert on atomic energy who
had been working with single
assistant in a small house. the two
living largely on potatoes they grew
in the back yard.
This was Japan's opposition to
the Manhattan project" DR.. Nor
rlson said.
But He Made Progress.
Yet even in the short time that
had elapsed since the bomb was
dropped Nishina had obtained for
himself considerable accurate in
formation, including the amount of
radioactive material, from analyses
Of ashes of the bones of the dead
The questions he asked were pre-
cisely those which scientists work.
ing in New Mexico, who had not
witnessed the actual explosion, ask
ed their associates the day of the
first test.
1t really is much simpler. DR..
Morrison said. to use nuclear fssion
for gradual release of power than
for an explosive bomb, although
there is a general impression that
the first problem has not yet been
solved. Actually, he said. he wit
messed the first power utiliza ton
at the University of Chicago, De-
cember 2. 1912. Tire power release
mechanism is SO simple compared
with any other form of engine, he
said, that at Hanford, Wash, it was
made complex deliberately and
needlessly. The idea was to keep
attendants from falling asleep at
their work from pure boredom.
The economic feasibility of nuclear
energy. he stressed, is a different
problem. quite different for a coun-
try like the United States with
abundant coal, oil and water power
than for various European countries
with few natural resources.
Wallace Asks World Control.
There is no defense in science
Just as there Is no lasting secret, "
Secretary Wallace said in opening
the meeting, which is backed by 10
national rganlzationS. World con-
troll must be our immediate purpose
to gain time and provide a secure
basis for considering the problem
, of war itself. Humanity might stag
ger through another war like the
last. but it could not survive an
, atomic war. Rotterdam. Warsaw
and Coventry can be rebuilt. but
il an atomic war it would be neces-
sary to rebuild the major cities and
the heavy industries of all the
world"
The atomic bomb has brought
mankind to a clear aftermath of
living together in peace or dying
| together in war; said Dr. Norman
Dawes. professor of history at the
Carnegie Institute of Technology of
Pittsburgh. He also stressed that
world security is essential to anv
creative use OF atomic energy.
Social aspects of the problem
were discussed by DR.. Waldemar
Nielsen, psychologist and public
opinion analyst.
The institute will be continued
through tomorrow, with a banquet
tonight at 2400 Sixteenth street
NV, where speakers will discuss
other nations viewpoints on atomic
control.