RADIUM AND RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100500004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 15, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 13, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100500004-0
L' I r I L'fri I I U IN SECRET/SECURITY INFOR41&-leilf"474
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY --
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Hungary
SUBJECT Radium and Radioactive Elements
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PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQU I RED
DATE OF INFORMATION
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DATE DISTR./4U-G1952
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
lLISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NETIoNAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE mEANING OF TITLE 1139 SECTIONS 723
AND 794, OF THE U.S. COPE, AS AMENDED. ITN TRADED INDIAN OR RAVE.
LOTION OF ITS CONTEN, TO OR RECEIPT MT AN uNAuTHORIZED PERSON 19
PROHIBITED BY LAN. THE REPRODUCTION Cr Tisis FORM IS PROHISITEO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. In 1944 the Germans confiscated all the radium they could find
in Hungary, from the hospitals, university, etc. As a result,
the Ecetvoes Lorand University did not have any radioactive
preparations for laboratory work. In 1949 Dr Erdey-Gruz,
Director of the Physical Chemistry Institute, wrote to the
Curie Institute which sent him radium preparations for use in
laboratory instruction. In the summer of 1949 or 1950, UNESCO
also gave the University radioactive preparations. In 1950
the Physical Chemistry Institute prepared a neutron source for
the Central Physics Research Institute. Only one tube, three
inches long and one inch in diameter, was produced. The glass
tube containing the neutron source was encased in a paraffin
tube, 6x6x6 cm.
2. There was talk in 1951 that radioactive elements had been
discovered in Hungary. No one seemed to know the location;
such a discovery would naturally be considered a military
secret. In this connection, a broadcast on Radio
Budapest In March 1952 may be significant. The broadcast
stated that the Kossuth prize had been awarded to two geolo-
gists: Dr Elemer Vadasz, Director of the Geology and Miner-
alogy institute of the Eoetvoes Lorand University; and
Dr Eiemer Szadeczky-Kardoss, professor of mineralogy. The
prizes amounted to 20 thousand forints each. It is also
Interesting that a 10 thousand forint prize was awarded to
Dr Sandor Szalay, Director of the Physical Chemistry Insti-
tute of the University of Debrecen; he was doing
research in radioactivity.
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION
3SI-MED
EV
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100500004-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100500004-0
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SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
-2-
The atdMic bomb was not discussed in detail atound the Uftiversity.
In 1945 or 1946, the British Consulate invited students of the
University to attend the showing of an English Moron the atomic
bomb. In'1951.the newspapers reported that Danilov? a Russian
engineer had used an atomic explosion to change the course of a
river for irrigation purposes. The Hungarians learned via the
"grapevine that the explosion was #remature,and an accident.
Since Hungarian newspapers do such a bad job or reporting the news,
the "grapevine" is well developed-and therefore
credence in the "accident" report.
The Eoetvoes. Lorahd
University did have several cloud chambers, some 50 cm in diamete
-end-
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
Orfila r-lir
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr2013/05/15 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000100500004-0