Evening star., 1952-10-06
Britain and Atomic Povtneyship

BRIAN ana Atomic P0FtneFSMD
In successfully exploding their first atomic
weapon in a super-secret test OF Australia, the
British have dramatically demonstrated that
the ability to manufacture nuclear armaments
does not rest exclusively with Soviet Russia and
the United States. OF course, considering the
fact that their scientists In this field have had
few peers or superiors anywhere in the world,
their achievement Is not at all surprising. But
it is nonetheless highly important, not only
because it puts extra weight on the Atlantic
alliance in the global balance Of power but also
because it raises anew, with particular emphasis
the question of Anglo-American cooperation.
During the Second World War, that CO.
operation-in which the Canadians played q
key role along with the British and ourselves
constituted an unprecedented international en-
terprise. Resulting in the development Of the
first A-bomb in history, 1t pooled the scientific
brains and other resources Of the three powers
in way that had never been tried before. At
the time in q number OF respects, Br1tain's
atomic experts were more advanced than ours,
and their contribution together with that Of
Canada's experts-undo was Of vital
Importance to the success Of the fabulous manu-
featuring operations carried out here In our
own country at places like Oak Ridge and Han
ford. Indeed, without that contribution, our
American effort probably would not have borne
fruit nearly 50 soon as 1t did.
Several important considerations persuaded
Britain and Canada to agree that the production
phase of this historic wartime undertaking should
be concentrated in continental America. They
conceded, for one thing, that it would be
wasteful duplication Of effort each OF the
three powers undertook to manufacture the
bomb at time when the required raw materials,
manpower, etc., were too scarce for distribution
80 81 3Ankc fla
no prior argument, they concurred in the view
(1) that the British Isles, because Of relatively
small area, limited industrial capacity and
nearneSs to the enemy, was not good site for
the gigantic plants needed for atomic output
and (2) that the United States was the only one
Of the partners adequately equipped for such
output.
By and large these considerations are stil
valid. Certainly, as far as the British are con-
cerned, there is reason to question the wisdom
of their undertaking the construction Of huge
atomic facilities which they do not now have
in period when their country. as key member
OF the Atlantic Pact has defense commitments
that impose extremely heavy demands on their
manpower and economic resources. That said,
however, the fact remains that under our own
law, as enacted in 1946, we have dissolved our
wartime partnership with them in the field Of
nuelear ornaments. This means, In this field,
that we are exchanging no secrets with them,
and accordingly they are quite naturally ex-
changing none with us. Instead, on the unaS-
sailable ground that every sovereign nation has
a solemn responsibility not to neglect the devel-
opment Of its arms, they apparently intend to
launch big A-weapons program Of their OWL
an understandable intention II they cannot be
guaranteed supply of such weapons from US
This is situation in which each Of our
countries has more to lose than gain. When 1t
comes to nuclear armaments, Britain and the
United States ought to be as closely allied as
they are In the Atlantic Pact. What has been
detonated off Australia may or may not be better
than what we have set on in Nevada and at Eni-
wetok, but whether it Is or not whether or not
it constitutes an advance-perhaps toward the
hydrogen bomb-the case Is very strong for
revival of the Anglo American atomic partner
ship that existed throughout the Second World
War Our 1916 law needs review and amend
ment. Given proper security safeguards on both
sides of the Atlantic, there can be no doubt
that cooperation on A-weapons between our
selves and the British would be good for the
entire free world.