Reasons for Cautious Optimism

LAST December President Eisenhower, speaking before the United Nations, proposed a world bank or pool of normal uranium and fissionable materials to be administered by the UN. In this historic speech, the President pointed out that these materials employed constructively could bring about great advances in industrial power, agriculture, biology, chemistry, and medicine—indeed, in just about every facet of physical science. While the President's proposals were widely acclaimed here and abroad, there were "doubting Thomases" who criticized the suggested project as vague and visionary. Some said the plan was impractical, others labeled it as just another piece of propaganda. It now begins to look as though President Eisenhower's proposals may develop into an effective international cooperative effort. AEC Chairman Lewis L. Strauss, speaking before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council two weeks ago, announced that after discussions with representatives of a number of countries, including the Soviet Union, a ...