Evening star., 1947-09-04
Scientists Hail Move
0fU. 5. 10 Share Atom
'Tracers' With World
By the k8soeiutsd Press

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 4.-The United
States today started new pro-
gram of sharing some tracer"
atoms from atomic ovens with
foreign countries-a move hailed
by scientists as promising quick
|er conquests over cancer and
other diseases.
There also were immediate sug-t
gestions that the action might serve
as a trail blazer to smooth achieve
ment of international control over
the atom bomb and atomic energy.
President Truman announced the
decision in a message last night
to scientists of A nations at the
Fourth International Cancer Re
search Congress. He asserted it,
would help reduce loss of life and
human suffering from diseases
throughout the world
None of the 20 radioactive ele- /
ments offered for sale to foreign
countries can be applied to develop
ing atomic energy for military or
industrial uses, the Atomic Energy
Commission said. Sales will not
include plutonium or uranium, or
give the slightest clues to any atom
bomb secrets. Supplies at the out
set will be limited.
Russian Inquiry Reported.
The commission listed Russia
among "a countries which have
made inquiry into the use of radio
iSotopes, but have not yet filed
specific orders for shipments.
The commission announced that
specific requests now on file from
abroad for radioisotopes for use inI
medical, biological and other re-
search fields will be filled as expi-
ditiously as possible.
Among specific requests received
from abroad is one from the Queens
land Radium Institute, Brisbane,
Australia, for 20 millicuries of
PHOSPHORUS 80 every two weeks for
use in treatment of polycythemia
vera and chronic Leukemia.
Many Other Requests Received
A number of other requests from
Australia, and from Canada and
England, also have been received.
The countries besides Russia
which were said to have made in
quiry into the use of radioisotopes
are Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, Czecho-
slovakia, Denmark, France, Holland,
Iceland, India, Iraq, Italy, Mexico,
New Zealand, Peru, Portugal. Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the Union
of South Africa.
When these inquiries have been
translated into specific requests,
officials said. the isotopes branch at
Oak Ridge will begin making az
rangements for shipments.
Foreign users will be required to
report for the benefit of every one
their findings on the tracer re-
searches. to make progress reports
semi-annually to the commission,
and to open their laboratories to
qualified visiting scientists of any
nationality. Foreign governments |
must see to it that the tracers are
used only for the requested pur-
poses.
DR.. c. P. Rhoads, director of Me-
rrpyiaI ANospital and Sloan sKet- /
,tering Institute, New York, instant
ly commented that the pattern
established by this action, of re-
quiring supervisory inspection and
control OF the use of the~tsotopes1
(tracers), is notable.
1T not ony removes the studies
from the possibilities of exploita-
ton for military purposes, but 1t
should set up, by usage in a COM
mon enterprise familiarity with
benevolent, forward-looking con-
troll. This should greatly advance
international thought and work in
the field of atomic energy"
May Open Secrets in Cancer.
President Truman expressed hope
that "the open, impartial and truly
international character of medical
research will carry over into the
realm of other problems of world
concern"
DR.. Austin M. Brues, director OF
the biology division of the Argonne
National Laboratory for Atomic Re-
search at Chicago, said the use Of
isotopes in cancer research will
break the stalemate in many a
difficult problem. This announce
ment gives us assurance that the
solution of cancer research and
treatment Is brought much closer"
The Acc will charge foreign
users about the same price as
American scientists for the tracers
Foreign governments must act
through designated representatives
who must register with the State