Evening star., 1954-09-10
Strauss Sees Signing
OF Dixon-Yaies Pact
Within Two Weeks
BYl.. Edaor Primo

Chairman Lewis Z. Strauss Of
the Atomic Energy Commission
says he thinks that Acc and the
Tennessee Valley Authority win
have ironed out their differences
and be ready to sign the contro-
versial Dixon Yates contract
within two weeks.
He made this prediction with
some hesitancy to q question yes
terday at the first news con-
ference he has held at Acc head
quarters since he took Office in
July. 1853.
Admiral Strauss said that he
would hope that when the con-
tract Is firmed up and approved
by the Commission there would
be no more headaches" He
earlier had called the Dixon
Yates matter, which has been q
target OF Democratic blasts, one
Of the big headaches Of his first
years stewardship of Acc.
But after the contract Is ap-
proved by both Acc and IVA it
viii go before the Joint Congress
siona1 Committee on Atomic
Energy for a full-blown hearing.
The Democrats are expected to
renew their attacks there.
Resolved by President.
According to Admiral Strauss,
the differences over the contract
among the Acc commissioner
themselves was resolved by the
Presidents decision to proceed"
with it. Originally, Commission
ers Henry D. Smyth and Eugene
Zuckert opposed the contract be-
cause. they said, it put the Acc
in business as q power broker.
Mr.. Zuckert's term expired on
July /.
The Dixon-Yates contract In
wolves the building Of q 600, ,000-
kilowatt steam generating plant
at West Memphis. Ark, by a pri-
vate utility syndicate at q cost
Of SLOT million. The energy
therefrom would be fed into the
iva system for distribution to
iva customers in the Memphis,
Tenn, area. In return, iva
would continue to supply a like
amount Of power to the Acc
installation at Paducah, KY.
The chairman also announced
that iva and ACC representa-
tives held their first conference
at Knoxville, Tenn, yesterday in
an effort to reach agreement on
a number Of items in the con-
tract.
No Dissensi0n Found.
Among other things, Admiral
Strauss also Salu:
/. That the u. s. has more
A-bombs and H-bombs in its
stockpile by. a wide margin"
than it had last year.
2. That he has found no dis
sension among Acc scientists
over the dismissal of DR.. j. rob-
ert Oppenheimer, noted nuclear
physicist, on security considera-
tions. He added that the turn
over of scientific personel has
been "normal-that. is. small"
and that there has been "no diff
f1culty with recruiting"
On the subject OF Open
heimer, the chaifman also ins
dicated that the atomic bomb
expert would remain as director
of the Institute for Advanced
Study at Princeton. N. j.
8. That some kind of q con-
ference might be expected soon
with other friendly atomic
powers and those possessing
necessary raw materials on crea-
ton of an international agency
to promote the peaceful uses of
the atom.
4. That in all likelihood further
tests Of hydrogen and atomic
weapons would be conducted in
the Pacific as new weapons are
developed. He added that no new
tests have actually been sched-
uled.
5. No site has as yet been
selected for the new Acc head
quarters. He indicated there
would be no decision or an
nouncement on this matter un-
til the Senate Public Works COM
mittee could take it up. There
had been reports that the site
was to be some 30-35 miles