Evening star., 1949-10-25
DR.. Urey's Wurnino

~. OTSy VOInin9
= AS Nobel Prize winner, as one of the
worlds outstanding nuclear scientists, and
as an American who has played key role
in the development of the atomic bomb,
DR.. Harold c. Urey of the University of
Chicago is a man whose words command
respect. Accordingly, the country should
listen to him when he warns that unless
may soon overtake and outstrip us in the
field of A-weapons.
At first glance, DR.. Urey's logic may seem
to be self-contradictory. Thus, Soviet
atomic secrecy is infinitely greater than
ours, and If ours is retarding us, then
why should not theirs retard the Russians
even more? But sauce for the goose in
this instance is not necessarily sauce for
the gander. Two vastly different modes of
life are involved, and security system
that works one way over here (where habits
of thought and action are geared to the
free interchange of ideas) may conceivably
work the opposite way over there. After
all, the U. S. S. r. is a totalitarian police
state, and 1t Is in position as our own
country is not - to offset the disadvan-
tages OF secretiveness by resorting to an
all-out concentration of resources and
complete and ruthless regimentation of
scientists in order to give top priority to its
production of A-weapons.
Actually, although probably less inclined
than he to abolish most of the present
restrictions, many authorities share DR..
Urey's view that the United States could
speed up its progress in nuclear arma-
ments by releasing much of the informa-
ton now being kept under wraps Months
ago, for example the Atomic Energy Com
missions Industrial Advisory Group -
made up of non-g governmental experts
spoke out vigorously against the danger
OF letting an exaggerated sense of security
prevent free American enterprise from
learning enough to help in the military
and non-military development of the
atom. The danger is real It is real edough
to warrant special study by the Acc and
Senator McMahon's joint congressional
committee to see whether 1t might not
be possible, with safety, to relax the law
in a way designed to bring more minds
into play on the problem and encourage
a greater participation by private indus
try. a. .-..
Moreover, even though he may be over-
stating the case In declaring that witch
hunts" and too much secrecy have dis
couraged many top scientists from work.
ing on our atomic project (probably
more important factor is the pay differen-
tial between Government and private en-
terprise), DR.. Ureys warning serves as a
timely blast against complacency. Al
though we have the lead now, we can lose
it, and we can lose it relatively soon, unless
we do everything necessary to maintain
it, That we are in no position to drag our
feet is indicated by the peculiarly cryptic
and urgent remarks made by Senators
Mcmahon, Hickenlooper and Millikin just
before adjournment during a successful
plea to give the Acc more freedom of ac-
tion in certain technical" construction
The truth is that there is no reason for
American cocksureness; in terms of both
personnel and facilities, we need to remain
wideawake and up-to-the minute to keep
ahead in the A-weapon race
OF course, as President Truman has just
told the United Nations, the world, instead
Of engaging in that race, should promptly
establish an effective system of atomic
control. At the moment, however, nothing
could seem more unlikely than that such
system will be set up in the next two
or three years - the period in which
Russia can move ahead of us with A.
weapons unless we exert ourselves. Warn
ings like DR.. Urey's - even if challenge
able in some respects - are therefore de-
cidedly to the point. We simply cannot
afford to lose our present supremacy Any
thing threatening it - whether excessive
secrecy, witch hunts" too little private
industrial participation, inadequate pay
for experts, or deficient facilities - should
be dealt with firmly and without delay.