The Wilmington Morning Star

TIGHTER ATOMIC LAWS ARE URGED
Department Of Justice Says Present Espionage Act Not Severe Enough

WASHINGTON, March 6.-(U.P)-

The Department of Justice informed the Senate Atomic Energy committee Wednesday that stern measures are required to protect U. S. atomic bomb secrets from foreign espionage.

The department urged in a special report that $300,000 fines and 30 year jail sentences be authorized for persons divulging a wide variety of atomic information. It added that terms of the present espionage act are virtually worthless in preventing industrial sabotage and espionage.

Spying Possible

While the report did not mention the recent Canadian espionage plot, it made clear that spying on a wide scale is possible in this country under existing laws.

Citing "inherent weaknesses" of the espionage act, the report urged the committee to eliminate from any bill finally approved provisions authorizing release of basic scientific atomic information.

Provide Alibis

The department claims that such a provision would provide a possible alibi for violators of security regulations, who might claim that information divulged was of a "basic scientific" nature and hence, not in the secret category.

The department recommended that full powers for issuing security regulations be vested in a commission and that violators of regulations would be punishable by fines of $100,000 and five year imprisonment.