BRITISH SCIENTIST'S ARREST

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1946, Page 5

BRITISH SCIENTIST'S ARREST

FURIQUS DEBATE IN AMERICAN SENATE Received Wednesday, 10.15 p.m. W-ASHINGTON, March 20. Dr. Alair Nunn May, LHe BritisU physicist, who was arrested in London on a charge of disciosing atoinic iiiiormation to a person he refused to. name, nas a general knowledge of the construction oi the atounc bomb, some knowledge of the operation of the American atomic bomb plants, ana ] could have iurnished unauthorised per- 1 sons witb smail sampies of piutunuun and uraniiun. Tbis was revealed by' Major-General Leslxe Groyes in a ietter oO oenacur xiomve ixioi.einooyer, wno j tead tne ietter to the Senate. The Ietter added that May ohtained j -Us v, leage auripg tnree visits to ] tiie University of Cbicago's metal'lurgical iaooratory, to which he was ac- ' eredited by tne British Intelligence. However, General Groves refused May pernnssion for a i'ourth visit in tne , .jpnng oi 1945, because be ieared May ] vvas learning too much, in contraven- ^ -loxi of tbe ariiiy policy of ccnipart- ] mentjng scxentists to prevent - any i jmgle scientist from learning more j -ban was necessary to do a particular | joo. j The Nqw York Times points out that j the gravity of General Groves' disiioburea was accentua'ted by the fact ohat May aiso had a considerabie' knowledge of the Canadiaii atomic energy ! project, on whicn he was empioyed since -.1)43. mformed American sources reported ! mac tne uttawa River project njanu- 1 facturing plutonium had progressed to me pomt where the Capadians could probauly now make atomic bombs. Despite Qificiai American statemcnts : -hat no arrests oi American citizens are expected to result from the Canadiaii spy disclosures, inlormed quarters ueueved that the May case might pro- 1 duce ramiiications in t|ie United States. j The imroduction oi General u-ioves , wak thi1 hliihfix'to a furious Sen- ; ate debate over the degree oi' army | participation in the proposed Atomic ' .tmergy Commission. Seuator liickenlooper supported Sena- j tor Yandeuberg's amendment providing j ior a miiitary advisory hoard to handie j nationai deience aspects of atomic' energy. Senator HicKenlooper said he lavoured eventual international control oi' atomic energy, but until then the United btates snould be like the Pilgrim Patners, "who Vent to church with their muskets loaded."