Should Britain Make Own Atomic Bomb?

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1949, Page 5

Should Britain Make Own Atomic Bomb?

WASHIXGTOX, Dec. 8. The American representatives to the American-British-Canadian atomic talks in Washington told the British delegates that atomic bombs might be available from the American stockpile to Britain in the event of war. Authoritative sources said today that the Americans expressed the view that it would be a jbty if tlie British were to duplieate American atomic bomb production. Sueh production, they said, would involve Britain in vast expense in building the plant and machinery necessary. They suggested, tlierefor^, that Britain sliould rely on the American stockpile. The sources said British atomic research had reaehed a point where the production of Ihe bomb in Britain could be technieallv possible. They added that the United States made no attempt to prevent Britain going ahead with atomic bomb production, and that the dise.ussions were not connected with the recent British decision not to go ahead with the building of a third atomic pile in Britain. The American Medical Association today acoused. the Government of moving too slowly on civil defence planning. It asked the Xational Security Resources Board, which has the overall responsibility for civil defence, to inform it what had been done to prepare for a nationa! emergency, particularlv an attack by atomic, biological and chemical weapons. The association called on doetors to take a lead in preparing to handle casualties from anv such attack on American cities.