Evening star., 1947-07-24
U, S.PIans More Tests
And Additional Types
OF Atomic Weapons
BY fhe Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
A world unable to agree on in
ternational control of atomic bombs
has been put on notice by the United
States that:
l. 1t intends to conduct more
tests of atomic weapons in the
Pacific.
2. Top military officers in the
field of nuclear flssion now head
a. joint Army-Navy agency devoted
to development of atomic weapons
of all types"
3. 1--WE mean to maintain and in
crease the pre-eminence of the
United States in atomic weapons
until acceptable international
agreements" are reached and con-
troll machinery established.
Congress Gets Report.
A report of the Atomic Energy
Commission to Congress contained
the terse announcement of further
experiments and the implied accept
ance of any challenge to world
atomic armament race.
Russia and the United States
made plain again yesterday at q
New York session Of the United
Nations Atomic Energy Commis-
sion their Numerically opposed
views on the subject of big power
veto rights over international
atomic control questions.
The armed forces disclosed, In
answering a reporters questions,
something of the activities of their
atomic weaponeers at work on the
armed forces special weapons
project"
Meanwhile, operating funds for
the commission were reduced $75,-
100000 below the Presidents budget
requests yesterday by a Senate
House Appropriations Conference
Committee.
The Senate had allowed $3.50, 0,000,-
900 cash and another $3.50, 100000 in
contract authority for the agency
the full budget request. The con-
ference group reduced the cash to
sl75,000,000, the original amount
voted by the House.
The commission announcement
of more tests was made in single
sentence in its report:
The Atomic Energy Commission
Is establishing proving grounds in
the Pacific for routine experiments
and tests of atomic weapons"
Details Are Withheld.
Commission officials refused to
elaborate, but there was immediate
speculation:
That the test of third atomic
bomb against warships-this one
exploded 1000 or 5000 feet under
water-might be forthcoming. Such
a test, scheduled originally to be
held early this year at Bikini was
postponed indefinitely by order OF
President Truman. The postpone
ment came as world powers were
preparing last fall for meeting of
the United Nations Assembly and
ensuing parleys.
That atom bombardiers want to
know, by experiment, what the
weapon would do to simulated
modern steel-and concrete city and
whether it would produce local
lied but highly destructive artificial
earthquake if exploded below
ground.
That atomic scientists believe they
have produced bombs vastly more
powerful than those used up to now
but can't be sure unless some ac-
tual explosion tests are conducted.
Secrecy Maintained.
Where is the proving ground to
be located? The commission was
tight-lipped on this, although it is
presumed Congress has been given
some private inkling because of the
probable necessity for legislation and
appropriations.
Bikini, because it was the locale
for the only previous off shore tests,
held immediate attention in specu-
lation. The atoll, from which ma
tives were removed prior to the 1947
experiments, is still uninhabited
save for a visiting crew of scientists
studying Pathological and other ef-
fects of the two test bombs.
However, there have been recent
reports that residual radio activity
is still a man-menacing factor in
Bikini lagoon and that some mild
traces persist on the islands them
selves of the contaminated rain"
which fell from the radioactive
cloud.
Groves Directs Project.
Selected to direct the armed forces
special weapons project are the two
military men with the longest and
most intimate association with the
atomic bomh-Maj. Gen. Leslie r.
Groves and Rear Admiral William S.
Parsons. They are commander and
deputy commander, respectively. of
the project.
Gen. Groves headed the Manhat-
tan district which directed the de-
velopment and manufacture OF the
Ave atomic bombs so far exploded.
Admiral Parsons participated IN the
Los Alamos, N. Mex, Great ton of the
bombs, few with the first atomic
strike against Japan and was tech
nical director of the Bikini tests.
The statement of the armed forces
that the Sandia base in New Mexico
is the principal field installation"
Of the special weapons project sug-
sested there were still others-not
vet identified. The Atomic Com
MISSIONS announcement. however,
seemed to indicate that the Pacific
proving ground might be used by the
project.
The commissions report said also
II, is busily trying to turn atomic
energy into peacetime uses, particu-
larly in the fields of health and the
eventual use of atomic energy for
power.
New RiII Would Remove