Evening star., 1949-11-26
Atomic
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| Atomic
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and has made considerable prog
ress-on an A-bomb 1000 times
more powerful than the Nagasaki
weapon.
3. American scientists have gone
far toward finding way to explore
an enemy bomb before it reaches
Its target.
Says He Revealed No Secrets.
Senator johnson said later that
he disclosed nothing that was not
already public information. And
he said that in referring to the
data during the telecast as top
secret" he was talking about
"know-how ow"-knowledge OF how to
manufacture the things he dis
cussed.
Senator johnson said he was
told by a "top source" after yes
terday's White House conference
that the telecast in which he par
ticipated was in no way responsible
for Mr.. Truman's order.
But the Official who reported
that the teleeast did play a big
part in the order said Senator
Johnson's remarks "were the cul-
mination Of events" which caused
Mr.. Truman to take action.
This source said another of the
events was the recent public
wrangle-aired before the House
Armed Services committee-ove,
how effective the B-36 plane. car
rier Of the A-bomb. would be In
another war. That congressional
investigation also highlighted
sharp differences among Army,
Navy and Air Force leaders over
national defense policy. s
Member Of Atomic Committee.
Discussing the johnson telecast.
the official declared: -.-sssr..,s-,ss,s......t.
'Mhat was said on t6Si- -fogfam
was not Of nearly as much i'm
portance as by whom 1t was said. ="
Mr.. Truman is reported to feel
that coming from Senator John
son, a member of the Atomic
Energy Committee. what was said
carried much more weight and
authority than it would have II 1t
had been said by someone in q
non-ofhcial capacity.
Mr.. Truman's order, 1t was uI-
derstood. has nothing whatever to
do With the resignation earlier
this week Of David E. Lilienthal
as chairman Of the Atomic Energy
Commission.
In submitting his resignation to
the President. Mr.. Lilienthal said
one Of his main reasons for quit
ting was to 'be able to engage in
public discussion and public af-
fairs with a greater latitude =
+, Earlier, he had urged that this
country stop this senseless busi-
ness Of choking ourselves by some
of the extremes Of secrecy to
which we have been driven"
His contention the atomic pro-
gram has been cloaked with toe
much secrecy, coupled with his
move for greater latitude" gave
rise to some talk Mr.. Truman's s
breakdown order might have been
issued with Mr.. Lilienthal In
mind.
THAT is sheer nonsense" said
an informant who knows the
background.
He added that Mr.. Truman's 3
first conference with Mr.. Nc
Grath on tightening up Of Sc
curity information took place be-
fore Mr.. Lilienthal sent his resig-
nation to the White House.
Both the Attorney General and
Senator McMahon said Mr.. Tru-
man wishes TO continue to divulge
to proper sources in the execu-
tive. and Legislative branches OF
the Government as much infor-
nation as possible. Mr.. McGrath
added. however, that "he has
asked me to see that the informa-
tion Is protected"
Senator Mcmahon spoke Of the
necessity OF safeguarding atomic
and other defense secrets. '.in the
present situation" Asked what
he meant by this, he said: I'VE
have no effective controls over
production Of weapons Of mass
destruction, including atomic
energy" ~ "
While neither Mr.. McGrath nor
Senator Mcmahon would say
whether Mr.. Truman's concern
applied especially to possible leaks
Of information from Capitol Hill,
Mr.. McGrath commented that the
laws governing the unlawful di-
vulging of classified information
9"apply to every one. including
members Of Congress" ~
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