Only Three Pounds

Canadians, whose Government is a partner in the atomic secret, are as eager as the next to hear more about it. Last week, in Parliament, Canadians--and others--heard more.

Reconstruction Minister Clarence D. Howe introduced a bill in the House calling for Government development and control of atomic energy. The bill would 1) set up a five-man civilian board to conduct atomic research on an annual budget of $3,500,000 and 2) supervise operations of Canada's three uranium plants at Eldorado Mine, N.W.T., Port Hope, Ont., Chalk River, Ont. Minister Howe neatly got around the question whether civilians or the military should control atomic research. He made plain that Canada's research will be only for civilian uses. Military research presumably would be left up to Canada's atom bomb partners.

Then the Minister lifted the curtain a little. Sample peeps:

P: Of the Atomic Big Three, only Canada has "an excess over its own requirements of uranium." Nevertheless, 20 Government prospecting parties are currently out in the bleak Northwest Territories hunting for more.

P: Although many scientists would consider it too optimistic, Minister Howe thought the practical everyday application of atomic energy was only about five years off. "The science is in about the same position today as electricity occupied when Faraday discovered the electromagnet about 100 years ago . . . but practical application of this energy will probably move faster than in Faraday's time."

P: Uranium, a source of radioactive products, may now become more important in medical research than radium. With the increased use for uranium the roles will be reversed. Hence Canada will probably hike its price for uranium, lower it for the radium byproduct.

Then Minister Howe dropped his own private bomb. Said he: three pounds of fissionable material would obliterate Ottawa (pop. 215,000). With no argument all parties supported the bill.

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