Reply #4: More info on Conant Slur -

[papau]

Seems a rather nice group whose liberal site I rather like - biblebelievers.org.au - has the info in the original post!

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:P7VF-w99VFsJ:www.biblebelievers.org.au/nl338.htm+S-1+Poison+Gas+Committee&hl=en

Memorandum to:
Brigadier General L. R. Groves
From:
Drs. Conant, Compton, and Urey
War Department
United States Engineer Office
Manhattan District
Oak Ridge Tennessee
October 30, 1943
Declassified June 5, 1974




1. Inclosed is a summary of the report written by Drs. James B. Conant, Chairman, A. H. Compton, and H. C. Urey, comprising a Subcommittee of the S-1 Executive Committee on the "Use of Radioactive Materials as a Military Weapon." It is recommended that a decision be obtained from competent authority authorizing additional work pertaining to the use of radioactive materials in order that this country may be ready to use such materials or be ready to defend itself against the use of such materials. The following program is recommended:

a. Immediate formation of a research and study group at the University of Chicago under supervision of the present Area Engineer. Assignment to this group of competent individuals now working on dust and liquid disseminating munitions and field testing of chemical warfare agents from the National Defense Research Council.

b. Assignment of a competent Chemical Warfare Service officer to the Chicago Area Engineer, who would become familiar with, and work on the problem under study by the University of Chicago. This officer should be experienced in the practical use of gas warfare.

c. The responsibility of the above organization would be:

(1) Develop radiation indicating instruments, expand present facilities of the Victoreen Company, and prepare a trial order for instruments with this company.

(2) Make theoretical studies pertaining to the methods, means and equipment for disseminating radioactive material as a weapon of warfare.

(3) Conduct field tests in isolated locations, such as Clinton Engineer Works or Sanford Engineer Works, using a non-radioactive tracer material.

(4) Prepare an instruction manual for the use of, or the defense against, radioactive weapons. This manual would be similar to that now used by the Chemical Warfare Service for gas warfare.
(2) As a gas warfare instrument the material would be ground into particles of microscopic size to form dust and smoke and distributed by a ground-fired projectile, land vehicles, or aerial bombs. In this form it would be inhaled by personnel. The amount necessary to cause death to a person inhaling the material is extremely small. It has been estimated that one millionth of a gram accumulating in a person's body would be fatal. There are no known methods of treatment for such a casualty

Two factors appear to increase the effectiveness of radioactive dust or smoke as a weapon. These are: (1) It cannot be detected by the senses; (2) It can be distributed in a dust or smoke form so finely powdered that it will permeate a standard gas mask filter in quantities large enough to be extremely damaging. An off-setting factor in its effectiveness as a weapon is that in a dust or smoke form the material is so finely pulverized that it takes on the characteristic of a quickly dissipating gas and is therefore subject to all the factors (such as wind) working against maintenance of high concentrations for more than a few minutes over a given area.

c. Possible Use by the Enemy.

It is felt that radioactive warfare can be used by the Germans for the following purposes:

(1) To make evacuated areas uninhabitable.

(2) To contaminate small critical areas such as rail-road yards and airports.

(3) As a radioactive poison gas to create casualties among troops.

(4) Against large cities, to promote panic, and create causalities among civilian populations.

For use in cities, it is estimated that concentrations would have to be extremely high to offset the shielding effect of buildings

Doctors Compton and Urey, two members of the Committee, felt that radioactive material may be used by the Germans against United Nations in the autumn of 1943. Dr. Conant apparently does not concur in this opinion. YOU WOULD THINK THAT LIBERALS WOULD NOTE CONANT'S "DOES NOT CONCUR IN THIS OPINION"! LOL :-)

d. Possible Use by the United States.

It is the recommendation of this Subcommittee that if HERE NOTE THAT THE IF IS UNDERLINED - CONANT WAS NOT ADVOCATING SUCH DEVELOPEMENT military authorities feel that the United States should be ready to use radioactive weapons in case the enemy started it first, studies on the subject should be started immediately.

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