Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-05
Cole Sees Safeguards
To Bar Atom Cheating
BY WILLIAM HINES
star Science Writer


star Science Writer
A workable set of rules to
prevent nations from cheating
their way to atomic-war capa-
bility probably will be in effect
by next summer, according 10
the head Of the international
Atomic Energy Agency.
Sterling Cole. a former Re-
publican Congressman from
New York, made the prediction
in an interview today. The
IAEA director general leaves
tomorrow for his Vienna head
quarters after a brief visit
which conceded with the
Atomic Industrial Forum meet
ing here.
Admitting disappointment
over progress made by the
agency" since its creation in
1856, Mr.. Cole forecast in
creased activity and accom-
plishment in the near future.
Final agreement on a safe
guards" code will be a major
step forward. he said.
Sees Adoption In April
"Rules and specifications will
be finished next month, will be
approved by IAEA's Board of
Governors in January and ]
predict they will be adopted
by April" Mr.. Cole said. by
next summer we will have in
effect a safeguard against di-
version of atomic materials for
war purposes"
The rules now being written
are designed to control atomic
materials acquired by nom
atomic countries for power and
training reactors. When re-
actors operate they transform
some of their nonflssionable
radioactive materials into ex-
plosive elements like plutonium.
Bombs can be made of plu-
tonium, and it is the purpose
OF safeguard rules to keep track
of this material.
Although the big atomic
powers-the United States. the
Soviet Union, Britain, Canada
and France-would not be COW
cred by the safeguard rules,
Mr.. Cole said it would help if
they would give at least token
observance.
Protests Voiced
"The nonatomic countries
feel that safeguard rules, in
GLIDING periodic inspection,
tend to infringe on their SOW
ereignty," Mr.. Cole explained.
They say, Why should we
subject ourselves to shopping
just because we don't have
uranium of our own?'
II have suggested to the
atomic countries that they do
the same as the other countries
are being asked to do.
"All we want is a demon
stration; for instance, apply
the safeguard rules to Ship
pingport (the big power re-
actor near Pittsburgh. The
United States is not resisting
in principle, but says such an
arrangement is impracticable
because materials sent from
Shippingport to processing
plants cannot be segregated
from other plants used ele-
mentS."
Mr.. Cole said that after
safeguards are in effect, he will
push for adoption of an inter-
national code on "third-party
liability" Along with safe
guards, this is "a must" he
asserted.
Legal Situation Cited
Third party liability has to
do with the legal situation the
builder of a power reactor
would find himself in if the
reactor should become involved
in an accident after it had been
turned over to its owner. Amer
lean companies are loath to
build reactorS for use aboard
because of the possibility that
they might later become liable
for damages, Mr.. Cole said.
The IAEA director said a
panel he appointed some time
ago is now about ready to re-
port on a possible code covering
third-party liability. Difficulties
in framing a code have resulted
chiefly from basic differences