We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
44 S.
opinion of every competent scientist and bomb expert.
The peacetime applications of atomic energy are many, according to Dr. Hume of the University of Kansas and formerly of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He stated that the use of radioactive tracers will undoubtedly be of great help in medical and chemical research. The application of atomic energy for power production is possible, but the details remain to be worked out. Members of the Economics Depart inent of the University of Kansas stated that the effect of the atom bomb and atomic energy on the economy of the nation was difficult to determine. But it did tend to force the nations of the world to reach reasonable economic agreements in world trade, or failing at this, another world struggle was inevitable.
The legislation now before Ck)ngress was described by members of the Political Science Department of the University of Kansas. It was pointed out that there were two bills and one amendment now being considered. The May-Johnson bill definitely emphasized military control of atomic energy, and secrecy. The scientists were definitely against this hill. The MacMahon bill emphasized civilian control and considerable freedom in nuclear research. This bill was favored by the scientists. The revised Vandcnberg amendment to the MacMahon bill calling for a military liai' son group acting in an advisory capacity is agreeable to the scientists. The international aspects of atomic energy control were also discussed. The report issued by the State Department under the name of the "Acheson
June, 1946
Report," prepared by a distinguished board of consultants consisting of businessmen and scientists, received the hearty approval of the scientists as the significant document in guiding our international relationships on this matter. This report recommends that the control of atomic energy be vested in an international agency. This agency would have control of the world supplies of uranium and thorium, would construct and operate plants producing uranium 235 and plutonium, would license activities in research and development, and v/ould have an inspection force to check on declared and legal activities as well as undeclared activities. The report recommends the gradual turning over of the information to this agency as it begins operation on atomic bomb manufacture.
The conference was concluded by an evening session at which representatives of the locality presented a series of findings or resolutions resulting from the conference. The principle features of these resolutions included ,1 recommendation that the MacMahon bill as now on the Senate floor be iidopted and that international control is the only sound solution to the prob 1cm of control of atomic energy.
The meetings were marked by the interest of the local people attending. Many questions were asked and opinions expressed by them throughout the sessions. These meetings were noteworthy in that they represented an organized attempt by scientists to inform the leaders of a state on the issues of the atomic bomb; and that the state of Kansas was the first of all the states to become so enlightened.