(4) DISTRIBUTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL. — Without prejudice to its continued ownership, the Commission has the power to distribute fissile material owned by it, with or without charge, to applicants who request it, (A) for the performance of research or development activities either independently1y or under a contract or other agreement with the Commission, (B) for use in medical therapy or (C) for use under a licence; issued pursuant to Article 7. Such material must be distributed in such quantities and under such conditions that no applicant can obtain a sufficient quantity for the construction of a bomb or other military weapon. The Commission is responsible for distributing, to the extent possible, sufficient fissile material to enable large-scale independent research and development. In determining the quantities of fissile material to be distributed, the Commission shall, for its own purposes and for the preservation of fissile material, take such precautions as it deems necessary in the national interest for the future development of nuclear energy. The Commission shall not distribute material to an applicant and shall recall the equipment distributed from applicants which is not equipped to comply with those safety standards in order to protect health and minimise the risk of explosions or other dangers to life or property identified by the Commission. or who use such material in violation of the laws or regulations of the Commission or in any other manner than as specified in the applicable Application. § 18. As used in this Act — (a) The term “nuclear energy” shall be interpreted to refer to all forms of energy released in or as a result of nuclear fission or transformation. SECTION 1.
(A) FINDINGS AND STATEMENTS. — Research and experiments in the field of nuclear chain reaction have reached the stage where the release of nuclear energy on a large scale is practical. The importance of the atomic bomb for military purposes is obvious. The impact of the use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes on today`s social, economic and political structures cannot be determined today. This is an area where unknown factors play a role. Therefore, any law will necessarily be revised from time to time. However, it is reasonable to expect that the development of this new energy source will lead to profound changes in our current way of life. Accordingly, it is stated that this is the policy of the people of the United States which, subject to the primary objective of ensuring common defense and security, development and use of nuclear energy, to the extent possible, are aimed at improving public welfare and raising living standards.
Strengthen free competition in the private sector and promote world peace. (1) PRODUCTION PROPERTY OR FACILITIES. — the Commission, acting as agent of the United States and on behalf of the United States, is the exclusive owner of all fissile material production facilities, with the exception of facilities which (A) are relevant for conducting research and development activities in the areas referred to in Sections 3 and (B) which the Commission considers to have a potential rate of production; sufficient to enable the operator of such facilities to produce, within a reasonable period of time, a sufficient quantity of fissile material to produce an atomic bomb or other nuclear weapon. The most conservative elements of Congress then began to tighten the law. Section 10, which was previously entitled “Dissemination of Information”, has now become “Control of Information”. [19] This new section contained the new doctrine that was later described as “born secret” or “classified at birth.” All information about the design, development and manufacture of nuclear weapons was “limited data”, and regardless of how it was derived or obtained, it was considered classified unless explicitly disclosed. This restriction on freedom of expression, which covers an entire subject, is still applied. The “wall of secrecy” erected by law meant that nuclear energy research and development had to be carried out under the supervision of the Atomic Energy Commission. [20] Scientists have become political activists in the debate over the control of nuclear energy.
Between the testimony and the public outcry, even Truman came to believe that the May-Johnson bill clashed with expert opinion. Truman`s assistant, John W. Snyder (then director of the Bureau of War Mobilization and Reconversion), offered an analysis of the current bill, listed its drawbacks (he did not focus on further research on the peaceful applications of nuclear power) and said that a good bill would be based on scientific ideas and expertise. Truman withdrew his support for the May-Johnson bill, prompting a special Senate committee on nuclear power (recommended by Dr. Condon) to spend most of November and December learning the ins and outs of physics and the possible applications of atomic energy — this time with the help of scientists.
