Evening star., 1948-07-24

lican presidential nominees farl
the answers to SPECIFIC questions
arising in connection with the in
stantaneous release Of nuclear
energy for its explosive effect"
Big Damage to Atoll.
The atomic officials hinted also
that the tests did considerable dam
age to the atoll. The proving ground
now is being reconditioned and
placed in standby status for further
use," they said.
AS for peacetime uses of atomic
energy, the commission had this
to say:
Radio -Isotopes, by products of the
atomic bomb, constitute the first
great contribution of the develop
ment of atomic energy to peacetime
welfare"
These isotepes, used to trace ele-
ments coursing through the bodies
Of humans and animals and also to
treat some diseases directly, "are
building up. bit by bit, a new under
standing of the dynamic processes
of life." The report declared, adding:
All told. more than 1000 differ
ent isotope projects are being con-
Quoted today, and they deal, in one
way or another, with every i'm
portant aspect of the physical vel
fare of mankind"
Wide Use Of Products.
These atomic by-products, the
commission said, are being used for
everything from measuring the fric-
ton on piston rings to treating
golter.
Mr.. Truman blamed Russia for
failure of attempts to work out a
system of international control. He
said
Our Government has sought,
through its representatives on the
United Motions Atomic Energy Com
mission, 10 find common basis for
understanding with other member
nations. However, the uncompro-
missing refusal Of the Soviet Union
to participate in a workable control
system has thus far obstructed
progress
Need for Secrecy Stressed.
OF the need for secrecy to protect
United States security, the President
said:
Secrecy is always distasteful to
a free people. In scientific re-
search, it is a handicap to produc-
tivity. But our need for security
in an insecure world, compels us, at
the present time, to maintain
high order of secrecy in many of
our atomic energy undertakings.
When the nations of the world
are prepared to join with US in the
international control of atomic
energy, this requirement of secrecy
will disappear
Reviewing the problems of con-
trolling atomic energy, Mr.. Truman
said the commissions report holds
out the promise of more efficient
production on the farm and in the
factory and of an increase of
mechanical and human energy for
QO1ng tne worlds WORK.
The President noted the report is
being published almost on the eve of
the second anniversary of the 1916
Atomic Energy Act. He said:
There is no reason to question
the sound basis on which it rests.
In two years, the world has found
no ready answers to the problem OF
war and peace. Atomic energy,
therefore remains fearful instru-
ment OF destruction and wonder
full invitation to progress through
peace"
FavOrs Civilian Control.
Mr.. Truman stressed that he
favors civilian control as provided
in the Atomic Energy Act. He said:
Gas President of the United States.
I regard the continued control of all
aspects of the atomic energy pro-
gram. including research, develop
ment and the custody of atomic
weapons. as the proper functions of
the civil authorities.
At the same time, he added, there
must be close cooperation with
the military establishment. He said
progress already made is strong
proof Of the capacity of civilians
and military men to work together
in a common cause"
The report said that more than
300 laboratories and hospitals are
doing research in atomic energy,
using isotopes produced by the war
born atomic energy plant at Oak
Ridge, Tenn. Among the users of
isotopes are the following:
Army Medical Center. Frederick,
Md: Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore; Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity Applied Physics Laboratory,
Silver Spring, Md: University of
Maryland and Medical School; Ma
tional Naval Medical Center, Be-
thesda; Sinai Hospital, Baltimore:
Agriculture Department., Beltsville,
Md, and Public Health Service at
Bethesda.
Georgetown University, Howard
University and College of Medicine,
National Bureau of Standards, Car
negie Institution of Washington and
National Research Council, all of
Washington.
Dewey