Nexus - 0402 - New Times Magazine-pages

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F rom the outset, extraordinary secrecy and security measures have surrounded the project," declared Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, in commenting on the first military use of the atom bomb. "This was personally ordered by President Roosevelt." Mr Roosevelt's orders, he innocently added, "have been strictly com- plied with."1 During 1942-45, Yet Russians with whom I worked side by side at Great Falls knew about the A-bomb high-level US at least as early as March 1943, and General Groves had reason to distrust the Russians in October 1942! In common with almost all Americans, I got the first hint of the existence officials covertly of the atom bomb from the news of Hiroshima, which was revealed on August 6, 1945 by President Truman. helped the USSR I visited Washington in January 1944 to bring to the attention of the highest authorities what seemed to me to be treacherous violations of security in the Pipeline. I got exactly acquire large nowhere in the State Department or elsewhere. It was not until I heard the announcement of the atomic blast in Russia on September 23, 1949, that I finally had the good fortune of quantities of meeting Senator Bridges and Fulton Lewis—but more of that later. It was after eleven o'clock, and my checking job was virtually done, when Colonel materials for its Kotikov burst into the cabin of the plane. He wanted to know by whose authority I was secret atom-bomb committing this outrage [see previous issue] and bellowed that he would have me removed. I answered that I was performing my duty, and, just to show how things stood, research project. opened two or three extra suitcases in his presence. I left the C-47 and with a nod of thanks dismissed my sentinel. As I crossed the field toward the barracks, Colonel Kotikov fell in beside me. No doubt he reflected that he was in no position to force an issue. He may also have realized that I understood the gravity of almost nothing I had seen. All that mattered to him was getting Will history judge the suitcases off to Moscow. Anxiously he inquired what I intended to do. If I had known what I do today, I should have grounded the transport, but in the end it the ensuing Cold went on its way to Russia. Colonel Kotikov asked me to open no more suitcases until instructions came from the War as a monstrous War Department. He said he hoped he would not have to get me transferred. I expected set-up? to be fired, and went so far as to pack my gear. But I received no communication from the War Department, and gathered at last that Colonel Kotikov had made no complaint. Perhaps, I began to think, he did not dare. I reported to Colonel George F. O'Neill, security officer of the 34th Sub-Depot at Gore Field, about the fifty suitcases I had examined. He was interested enough to pass the story Part 2 on to his superior officer in Spokane. There was no reply, even after Colonel O'Neill made a second attempt. Apparently it was not considered good form to cast reflections on the integrity of our ally... "DON'T MAKE A BIG PRODUCTION..." Extracted from One morning in April 1943, Colonel Kotikov asked whether I could find space for an important consignment of nearly 2,000 pounds. I said, "No, we have a quarter of a mil- From Major Jordan's Diaries lion pounds' backlog already." © 1952 by George Racey Jordan, He directed me to put through a call to Washington for him, and spoke for a while in his USAF (Ret.) own tongue. Then he put a hand over the mouthpiece and confided to me in English, with Richard L. Stokes "Very special shipment—experimental chemicals—going through soon." Originally published in 1952 by There was an interval of Slavic gutturals, and he turned to me again. "Mr Hopkins— Harcourt, Brace & Company, New York coming on now," he reported. Then he gave me the surprise of my life. He handed me Reprinted by American Opinion, 1961 the phone and announced, "Big boss, Mr Hopkins, wants you." FEBRUARY - MARCH 1997 NEXUS • 25