ATOM BOMB LEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 22 October 1949, Page 5

ATOM BOMB LEAD

(N.Z.P.A,

— Reuter.

American Production Depiored

Copyripht )

Received rritlay, o.3o p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 20. Russia would probably wipe out the United States lead in the atomic bomb race in about two years, said Dr. Harold Urey, one of America's leading atomic scientists. Dr. Urey, who was the diseoverer of heavy hydrogen and an atomic bomb pioneer, said bomb production had. faltered m the United States smce the war. While Russia was operating at a pace comparable with America's best wartime speed, progress of atomic research in the United States during the past four years had not been satisfactory. The programme was inefficient beeause it was frustrated by a ruistaken desire on' the part of Congress and the publie to protect the United States against ioss of "the secrets. " "I view the acquiring of the bomb by Russia as e^ceedingly ominous," said D11. Urey. Secretary of State Dean Acheson m a speech tonight called Russia "the aggressively imperialistic Power of our times. " He accused the Soviet Union of "trying to extend its domination where its grasp and reach coincide, and cause eonfusion and disintegration where its grasp falls short." The Soviet Union 's conduct, he said, cause d one set of the United States foreign policy problems. Other problems would exist if the Soviet Union did not. These were the economic, social and political probleins resulting from the war's disruptions and ehanged relations with other countries. Mr. Aclieson said American economic assistance to otlie- nations must always be marginal. Thev must depend prnnarily 011 tlieir ov. 11 will and effort. " We can help greatlv tliose. who are doing their utmost to succeed by their own efforts. We cannot (lirect or control We cannot mahe a world as God did cuil of chaos. There are some apparently who think we should do this — and m less than six davs! " Unified U.S. Can Lick World. General Eisenhower declared today: "A unified America can lick the world. ' ' Addressing the House Armed Services Committee, which is hearing evidence on inter-service differences, General Eisenhower said he believed unification of the armed services would work from now on. He called on the services and Congress to give unification a chance and not to "panic" at the first setback. Naniing Russia as "our only possible enemv" General Eisenhower said beeause of the cost it was difficult to maintain a "decent defence establishment" to match the Soviet Union 's power. General J. Lawton Collins, Army Ohief-of-Staff, denied the charges by General Clifton Gates, Commandant of the Marines, that the Army intended to reduce the Marine..Corps to a "police foree. " ' General Mark Clark, Chief of the Armv Field Forces, said: "I think we must rutlilessly eliminate from the national military establishment anyone who does not believe in unification."