Evening star., 1948-05-17
LiIienthuI Terms
Secret TriuIs on
AtoII a Milestone

The White House said today
that tests involving three atomic
weapons of improved design
proved successful in all respects
recently at Eniwetok atoll in the
Pacific.
The statement was made after the
Atomic Energy Commission gave
President Truman an official report
saying the results indicate very
substantial progress.
Chairman David E. Lilienthal and
the four other commissioners re-
ported orally to Mr.. Truman that
the present stage of the commits
sion's tests of atomic weapons is
now concluded"
Mr.. Lilienthal called the tests "a
milestone in atomic development.
Test Series Completed.
The White House statement about
the report follows: :
THE President today received
from the United States Atomic
Energy Commission a report on
tests of atomic weapons conducted
at the commissions proving ground
at Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall
Islands. The tests were held pur-
suant to approval of the President,
given in June, 1947. The first series
of the tests are now completed.
THE commission reported that
the tests involving three atomic
weapons, each of improved design.
was successful in all respects, and
that the results indicate very sub
stantial progress. The President
gave general approval OF commits
sion plans for steps it proposed to
initiate at once for further nuclear
DEVELOPMENT, based upon informa-
ton gained from the tests.
LAS previously announced by the
commission, the tests we're conducted
under the security provisions OF
the Atomic Energy Act, and infor-
nation as to the scientific results
and technical details of the tests
cannot be made public at this time.
The area of the proving ground. as
previously defined, remains closed
to unauthorized persons.
10000 Men Involved.
"The Secretary of National De-
fense and the Atomic Energy Com
mission have authorized statements
of acknowledgement OF services OF
the personnel engaged in the tests,
for release by the military scientific
leaders of the project upon their
return to Honolulu tomorrow"
There may be statements from
Honolulu then, from 1t. Gen. John
E. Hull, commander Of the task
force, and from Capt. James s.
Russell, test director who is in the
commission's military application
division, Mr.. Lilienthal said.
He said about 10000 men were in
volved in the test. including military
personnel. engineers. scientists and
others.
Mr.. Lilienthal gave no details OF
his conversation with Mr.. Truman.
Term Limit Approved.
Meanwhile, the Senate-House
Atomic Energy Committee approved
a bill which would limit TO rs
months the new terms for Mr.. Lii
ienthal and the four other commls-
sioners. The vote was IL to 5.
The bill would extend terms OF the
commission members until June 30.
1850. In effect. it would give the
next President the privilege of max
ing full-term appointments. The
present terms expire August l.
One Democrat, Senator Johnson,
OF Colorado joined 10 Republicans
in support of the compromise. All
five of the negative votes were
Democratic.
Roll Call on Bill.
The roll call follows:
For the tWo-year extension
Senators Vandenbarg, of Michigan.
Millikin, of Colorado; Knowland, OF
California; Bricker, of Ohio, and
Hickenlooper, of Iowa, all Repub-
licans, and Senator Johnson; Rep
resentatives Elston of Ohio. Hin
rO1rII nee -