Evening star., 1947-04-20
U. s. Isl Losing lis Lead
On Atom, LiIienihaI
Tells ASNE Meefinq

Warming the United States is
losing rapidly Its pre-eminence In
atomic research, Chairman David
LilientfaI of the Atomic Energy
Commission called on the nations
newspaper editors last night to lead
an educational campaign to ac-
quaint the public with what is at
stake"
From the level of vi Day, we
have actually gone downhill, meas
ured in such vital factors as scien-
tff1c personnel, depreciation of
plants intesity of effort and in other
important ways" ne declared. mo-
thing less than major effort is
called for, a program under full
head Of steam, carried forward
Jointly by American science, in
dustry, the armed forces and the
Government"
Mr.. Lilenthaf spoke at banquet
concluding the three-day convention
of the American Society of News
paper Editors in the Hotel Statler.
Warns of Decline.
II the people do not realize the
Importance of persistent atomic re-
search to national security, he said,
the program will be exposed to all
kinds OF petty Illustrations.
TOP scientists will adjure it: good
administrators will have nothing to
do with it. 1t will become fine
meeting place for industrious medi-
ocrity."
Mr.. Lilienthal said 1t had yet to
be shown in peacetime that the
Government could attract and hold
first-rank scientific talent. Further.
he continued. ut has yet to be
demonstrated how much secrecy the
American people and their repre-
sentatives will accept in peacetime,
since 1t is their money that is
being expended and their destiny
that Is at stake.
Secrecy is Required.
And yet, it is perfectly clear-no
one has suggested an alternative
that atomic energy is an undertak-
ing that under present world condi-
tons must remain in Government
hands, 1t is clear, too, that under
present conditions a large area mu/
be kept secret at all costs"
Mr.. Lilienthal said many people
still had the false impression what
we have Is the kind of scientific Sc
cret that can be put in an en-
Velope and locked in vault, and
thereby kept as our sole possession
for all time"
He said the commission was op-
posed to creation of a large Gov
eminent information staff to dis
seminate atomic data.
Refers to Confirmation.
II the public became informed
generally as to the implications of
atomic energy and If this country
maintained leadership In research,
he declared, it would not be fam
tastic to hope that the time will
come when, in spite of all political
obstacles to the free flow of news.
the peoples of the whole world will
also come to realize that there is
no security for any one unless In
ternational agreement safeguards
the whole world against the misuse
Of atomic energy"
In beginning his address, MIR
Lilienthal recalled the controversy
concerning his confirmation in the
Craftsmanship. He said:
Il cannot refrain from comment
ing that had it not been that the
press of the United States is over
whelmingly- fair, decent, independ-
ent and above narrow partisanship,
your present speaker would almost
certainly not be talking to you to-
night as chairman of the Atomic
Energy Commission
Bush Asks More Research.
In another address at the banquet.
DR.. Vannevar Bush, director of the
Once Of Scientific Research and De-
velopment, said the United States
must move promptly to restore its
reservoir of scientific learning
through increased basic research.
During 1.-The past decade, our
scientific advances have been note
worthy, but they have been pri-
narlly in applied science, and have
drained very nearly dry our re-
sources Il fundamental knowledge"
he said.
THE Nation must share in the in
vestment.' since the work needed is