Evening star., 1949-05-31
LiIienthoI- -HickenIooper Split
Widened by ACC Heads Blast
ty me Axsoeisssd Press

'Widened by AE'
sy me Assoeisssd Press
The gap between David Z.
| Lilienthal and his No. / congress
sional critic, Senator Hickenloop-
er. Republican. Of Iowa. spread to
chasm today as the Atomic
Energy Commission chieftain ac-
cused the Senator Of smear" and
"un-American" tactics.
Senator Hickenlooper promptly
retorted that the charges he has
brought against Mr.. Lilienthars
competency" are not to be tried
out by newspaper barrages and
self-praise or self-serving decla-
rations, but must be examined in
an orderly way" He said he saw
no need for 'histronics or the
atrics."
The Senate-House Atomic En-
ergy Committee, of which Senator
Hickenlooper Is former chairman.
already has launched an inquiry
into the charges. Both Senator
Hickenlooper and Mr.. Lilienthal
have called for a full public ex-
ploration Of the facts.
Closed Session Today.
The committee arranged q
closed door meeting today to hear
Senator Hickenlooper's demand
that he be permitted to confront
Mr.. Lilienthal with what he says
is proof Of incredible misman-
agement."
Meanwhile, Senator Taft of
Ohio. Senate Republican policy
leader. disclosed that he has told
Senator Hickenlooper that I will
support his stand"
He said he voted against Mr..
Lilienthal's confirmation as Acc
head two years ago because Il
didn't think he was the right man
for the job and don't think so
now"
Scientists Back Lilienthal.
The Federation Of American
Scientists. which includes many
of the men who helped develop
the atomic bomb, lined up in Mr..
Lilienthal's corner. The fedora
tons five-man Administrative
Committee said in . joint state
ment:
I'VE have come to the unani-
nous conclusion that from the
evidence so far presented. not one
of the present attacks on the
management Of the Atomic Ener-
gy Commission is well founded"
The latest words between the
two antagonists started with =
series Of statements made by Mr..
Lilienthal to three newsmen yes
terday in his office.
Referring occasionally to sheaf
of pencilled notes which he had
prepared, Mr.. Lilienthal tore into
Senator Hickenlooper's charges
as Calculated to arouse fear. un-
easiness, fright and ultimately
panic"
Sees Confidence Undermined.
The gravity of the charges, he
continued. is such as to under
mine the confidence Of this coun-
try and the people Of Western
Europe in the principal security
enterprise Of this country ="
He also said some people. whom
he did not identify. belive the
inquiry win "break my health. |"
Then he added that the Acc will
aet its work done land my health
win take care Of ITSELF"
\ Senator Hickenlooper has said
that numerous persons Of strong
Communist leanings have been
permitted to work on atomic
Secrets.
Mr.. Lilienthal said the latter
statement has cast = cloud" on
60, 900 atomic workers.
Commented Senator Hicken-
looper: mo one has injected
criticism of the scientists into this
program. That is . Lilienthal in
lection. This is . matter 60
ing to the competency Of Mr..
Lilienthal's policies"
Senator Hickenlooper's demand
for Mr.. Lilienthal's custer followed
disclosures that q Communist had
been awarded an Acc scientific
research fellowship. and that .
small amount of Uranium-235 had
been lost from the Argonne Atomic
Laboratory at Chicago.
II shall produce the facts in an
orderly way and without histro-
MICS or theatrics." Senator Hick-
enlooper told . reporter.
MIR. Lilienthal said Senator
Hickenlooper made his charges to
the press on . Sunday night as
the elimination Of . number OF
scare stories during the week"
The timing Of the charges. he
continued, indicated that 1t must
have been something that couldn't
wait" and Monday morning (May
23) the people had every right
to believe the whole (atomic) en-
terprise was in danger" He
added:
II have seen the effect on the
whole atomic energy program In
the past week and I want to say
with most careful consideration
there is . need for . broad and
prompt public inquiry If for no
other purpose-and there are
|others-than to reassure the peo-
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