ASTRONOMICAL CONFERENCE AT GRONINGEN/SOVIET REPRESENTATIVES/INFORMATION AND IMPRESSIONS CONCERNING SOVIET ASTRONOMY

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• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000300570001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 23, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASS IFICATION/ct n`odiiAL
INFORMATION REPORT
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COUNTRY 'CSSfb
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE ~
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Astron mical Conference at Oron:ingen/Soviet
Representatives/Information, and Impressions concern-
ing Soviet Astronomy
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DATE CF 1170MIMM
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. There were five Soviet scientists at the Groningen Conference.
Ambartsjzany ~, Prof Viktor . mazaspovich
Parena,go, P7."r- f P
Xhukarkin.. B V
L deIii k2v ; 0 A.
Ku,lf.ko?vrs ki y, P C'
These men are certainly among the foremost Soviet astronomers, particularly with respect
to galactic theory end research. nbartsumyan is the outstanding astronomer in the USSR,
a very brilliant scientist who can fully hold his own with any other astronomer in the
world. I hukark n wa:= the Commrauntist. Party member of the group, the person whose thinking
was most influencedd, by dogma. There wrnre no secret police representatives accompanying
the Soviet group.
Instrtmentation
2~ The Soviets are not going to attempt to construct a large reflecting telescope mirror
of optical glass. Amal.)artsumyaxzr:, indicated that they would have great difficulty in pro-
ducing a large-size mirr,-r comparable to the 200-inch mirror in the US. Soviet industry
is at present incapable of Is technical feat, and some time will be required for it
to develop the requisite capability. hukarkin also indicated at the Seventh General
Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (MU) in Rome, Italy September 195f',
that the Soviets are experimenting with mirrors made of metal rather than optical glass.
The York of the Optical Institute in Moscow has apparently been a disappointment in this
particular assignment, for they wore supposed to study large-size US mirrors of optical
glass and develop the capability to duplicate or even. improve on them. Also, in Sep-
25X1 tember 1952,1 two Germans who had just returned from a three-year contract
stay at the Jena Gerraa,ny (Soviet Zone works of Carl Zeiss. They indicated that this
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plant was exclusively concerned, with small' optics, and thus did not contribute to the
Soviet capability to manufacture large mirrors..
3. However, the Soviets (eg, (fnu) Klasniak) are working on the use of the image convertor
tube for astronomical observation. Employing infrared light and in general the principle
of the television tube, this technique probably offers the greatest hope of signifi-
cantly extending astronomical observation. The USSR is at the forefront in this work,
as advanced as the work of (Thu) : Lailemand ' iin France.
Radio-Astronomy:'
data obtained by others (mainly the US, UK, and Australia).
Extent of Astronomical Activity:
Ambartsumyan was asked directly whether there was active experimental work on radio-
astronomy going on in the'USSR, perhaps by such a scientist as (fnu) Skhlows . He gave
an honest answer in the negative, saying that Soviet industry was not in a position
where it could release radar-electronic experts to the astronomers. As in other countries,
the pool of trained radar scientists i too small. Hence, current Soviet work /957
in radio-astronomy is.exclusively.anslytical,and theoretical,, utilizing, the, experimental
5. In the discussion of as future.program,of research, the Soviets indicated they .1
search, for. all, the variable eta in the Northern Kaptyn areas. of, the sky. The. question
was raised whether: such an ambitious program, on top of an already extensive. program
of astrQatale l.,.researgh, would not.. mortgage the work of. many prominent scientists.,
not only? for the preser t but-even for, at least a generation to coarse,. ? ' Not at, all, was the
"Ply-4 Iihukarkin pointed out. tl}at ,they, leading Soviet astronomers have as -many. as 5O
46sistants;and cq mpute'rs,'and that sufficient personnel were available to make their ,
search fe ', variable stars well within , tti,.m 1;r resources, without excluding other signifi-
25X1 cant research. x 0 Z'~.Iinnaert, a German astronomer invited to the
USSR dart year wao v e oecow, eningrad, the.Ukraine.,and other centers; he con-
firmed the large number of exceedingly well trained astronomers and students now working
in the USSR.
6.
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the Saviet's'warm to make a mark in science in general, and cer-
tainly in astronomy.' In their urge'they are'tending somewhat to put science on a con-
veyor belt.. Eut.make no mistake, there is not the slightest doubt that .
Soviet science. is'et?bng'now Z l-9517 and will soon be very strong indeed. There is no
longer ezy published work; rf obviously poor quality. 25X1
7. There is a deliberateness,of effort which is quite, impressive and must reflect. important
policy decisions amend, the establishment of means of implementation. F_ I
25X1 At the- IAV Assembly in Rome, Lseptember 19152 the Soviet
delegation included a very attractive and brilliant young woman as interpreter. Her
laughter and easy manner were 6' contrast with the inhibited mood of the other (male)
delegates 'She was fluent ~nfi6ny lan gas, and translated from one to the other with
25X1X ease,` this young woman, a Miss (fnu) Massevitch',
five years. previous she had been working in a factory -
25X1 an ordinary factory employee. Her ability in mathematics and generally. exceptional in-
telligence were spotted-in some form of extra or adult education,, and she was given the
equivalent of a US high school education in two years, and a university and,graduate
school education.-in approximately three. That she was a worthwhile selection is shown
25X1 by her brilliance, hammering away at (fnu) 'Hoye of the UK until she
literally f ork ed.., him to admit that he had not adequately considered some rather basic
point with respect to his theories relating to the origin of the universe, and would
have to thins it out.. The point , here. is that apparently the Soviets have effective
methods.of continually combing the ranks for people who show scientific romise, and
of.seeing that they :maximize; their potentialities. Maseevitch is now '
LSe ptemtaer.,.97
working under K-hukarkin:.
Astronomy and Scientific Dogma:
8. About a year and a half ago L19517, there apparently was something in the way of an
attempt to dogmatize astronomy. Vladimir 0 Smidt, Commissar of Northern Transport
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.(or some sa ob. 'title) and one of the older minor pillars of the 'Communist Party, was
utilizing` dialectic materialism arguments"to buttress very weak scientific theories.
The "Ow-'3R Academy of Sciences arranged for a debate attended by some 300 scientists,
25X1 and' Smidt'was firmly Squelched.- this will' leave astronomy 'relatively free from
any attempts'at dogma for some time to come. 'To be true'.. astronomy papers usually begin
with-the paragraph or two praising Stalin or what have you, but then the author quickly
gets down to presenting and discussing'his results in'purely scientific terms.' This
political nod or lip service paid. in scientific papers is, of course, a common phenomenon.
9. TpOvidnal's, ray be significantly affected by dogma or political concerns as the case
may be. Take the case of Khukarkin,, a Party member. At the discussion on stellar
e+volution at the IAA' Assembly in Rome LSeptember 1957, it was'surprising to'-find such
a'cdmplete.avoidanzce by the Soviet astronomers of any recognition of the significance.
or role of stellar energy. After the daytime session Khukarkin had an'evening die-
25X1 cussioaa with a western scientist who tac4ed him directly and- ffectively,
on-why stellar energy was avoided. Kh .karkin claimed that Soviet science could only
accept'enpirical evidence.,'laboratory.wo'k. The western scientist' asked him if he-
would accept the field of radioactivity as shown by laboratory work. Yes. Then, was
it not also true that from this laboratory work, the oldest geologic rocks could be
dated' on. the' basis of the ha If theory of radioactivity - and was this not a signifi-
cant scientific formulation. Khukarkin hemmed and hawed, agreed - and then strongly
disagreed (no!), because according to the philosophy of Marx and Engel there can bi no
beginning %or and of the universe (and'this would be a ,logical possibility. developing ?
from'the radioactivity-line Lof reason'ing). Still later in the evening, when the inter-
preterfor,Khukarkin and,the western scientist had gone'to bed exhausted, and they were
alone 'together in a small cafe in the wee hours of the morning, I4iukarkin quickly changed
to,Germa: eince'they'could discuss matters direotly and much more effectively. Ee said
the Soviet astronomers admired what US scientists were doing in the field, but there
was an insurmountable'philosophical wall between them,
10. But it must.be emphasized that it is only ,& relatively small number of the political
o:r administrative leaders of Soviet atronomy'who do (or have.,to),adopt such unscientific
attitudes. -Astronomical science itself is little affected by this apparently necessary
and artificial overtone. Take IChukarkin once again, despite the relative strength of
I is' dog ,tism; Miss Masievi.tch is doing excellent scientific' work under his' direction.
Ir
P y to cal Attitudes <
11. It seemed clear at the Groningen meeting that the Soviet astronomers displayed an
inferiority complex which, unlike some other attitudks, was never dispelled. They want
to raise their work to a level equal or better than anywhere-else in the world, and I
for one believe their general demeanor will change at. international gatherings when they
develop greater self-confidence. They arrived at the meeting, as Soviet delegates do
at most scientific gatherings, smarting under various real?or imagined concerns, suspi-
cions, and looking around for ''the enemy". Because the Groningen meeting lasted a week
and was held-at a villa in the country (aid without the presence of RKVD watchdogs), this
typical Soviet behavior-quickly changed. .During the first day'of formal discussion,
the Soviets were or .stanxbly raising their hands to record a "comzmunicationt', which
usually had qi~iihing whatsoever to do with the technical subject matter under discussion.
These'- communications were really either general.-"gripe's" or specific grievances' which
they wanted to express both officially and.personally, or announcements of accomplish-
ments of which` -6hey were proud. They were still sma-?ting over. the rebuff represented
by the eventh' I U Assembly not being held in Moscow as originally planned. The-western
soienti's?ts gre'ent were concerned that this would continue throughout the meeting, but
after the first day of such catharsis, nothing further was heard and scientific dis I t..
cussions proceeded uninterrupted.. .
12. Once the Soviet delegates absorbed the friendly scientific attitude of the westernrep-
re:sentstives; they gradually loosened up and even arranged and gave a party at which
Ambartsumyan pulled out from under the table two large bottles of Soviet brandy he had
brought: rith him .'phis was after the Soviets had been invited to have a drink on the
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*ay back from a conducted. tour, of the Zuyder Zee, to which Invitation they responded
with Dleasure after, a bit of pushing. Ambartsummyan had four, or five drinks.at.this time
as if he,had been missing. alcoholic refreshment.
Cooperation:
13. Private talks were held on the use.of.the Russian language in scientific papersr.,. The
Soviet delegates said. they would be `satisfied if the ' TiS papers (published in the leading
US astronomical journals) being sent to the..L15SR on an. exchange basis,, had.. added to them
typewritten. abstracts , written. by the author and translated into Russian., They even said
that if there .was difficulty . in .getting Russian-language typewriters, .for these appended
abstracts,. they would, supply them''They did not ask for printed. abstracts- in Russian,
acknowledging that this would be too 'costly: Reciprocally, the Soviets offered to add
abstracts :in English, to their awn astronomcal papers sent abroad to the UK and US.
14. this offer made by the: Soviets at the Groningen meeting i's. official, for
25X1 they apparently came fully prepared ' to make this commitment.
Appel ce of:Delegation:
15< As at the TAU Assembly in Rome, the Soviet. delegation was much better dressed than in
previous,years., At Rome, the shoes of the $oviets'creaked so obviously with their newness
as the delegation .marched in that -a' western delggate remarked succinctly:. "Government
issue". At; roningen,.they were , better.dressed than in many moons, Whether this reflects
a` sing star of living in the USSR or a greater emphasis, on, consumer goods,, one,
coin only presume,
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