The Karlsruhe Conspiracy

In the 1960's, George Elliott was the Technical Director of the Vacuum Systems Division of Connecticut Nuclear Corporation. He lived in Washington, D. C., where that division was located. They had introduced a remarkable new product, which George had invented and designed. It was a neutron generator - that is, its function was to produce an abundance of high energy neutrons. They named it the Activatron. There was a need for that type of equipment. A ready market awaited, Connecticut Nuclear marketed their products around the world. However, there were security ramifications to the sale of neutron generators, since such equipment was used in the production of nuclear weapons. The machines could not be sold overseas without the express approval of the federal government. Connecticut Nuclear's European sales headquarters was in Frankfurt, Germany. At that time, Germany had no peace treaty with the allied powers, and the U. S. Army still occupied West Germany. In the early summer of 1965, a CIA agent named Harry McCrcady called on George. He said they were well aware of his activities, and - since the Activatron was closely related to nuclear weapons technology - they wanted him to inform them of any foreign activity he encountered that he thought they might be interested in. George casually agreed. Later that summer, the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission requested Connecticut Nuclear to send an Activatron to Geneva in August, for display in the American exhibit at the Atom Fair. They did so, and George went to Geneva with other members of his firm. There were German scientists attending from the Nuclear Research Center at Karisruhe, West Germany. They were impressed with the Activatron, andindicated that they would place an order. The order arrived shortly thereafter, and the Germans requested a conference with George before shipment. George went to Germany. While there, he was told by knowledgeable people that Karisruhe was secretly providing plutonium to France in exchange for relief from war reparations. On his return, George told Harry McCready what he had heard. Harry was stunned. He asked George to dig hard on his next trip - and, if possible, even to recruit an agent in Karisruhe. The Activatron was shipped to Karlsnthe in mid-December, and installed by Connecticut Nuclear's Frankfurt personnel. Reports came back that it was not performing properly, so George agreed to go over alter the Christmas Holidays. In early January, 1966, George went to Karlsruhe. He cured the problems, which were minor. During the process, George met and became acquainted with Harold Moody, an American graduate student who was working on his doctor's degree in physics at the Research Center. On a social occasion., George told Harold about the plutonium traffic and asked if he would be willing to report information of interest to the CIA. Harold was not only offended, he reported George to the Germans. On the night immediately following, the German Secret Service (BND) made two attempts to kill George Elliott. The next day was Saturday. Very early, George bolted from his hotel, rented a car, and drove over back roads to Frankfurt. He went to an apartment in Eschersheim, where he had rented a room the previous fall. Frau Hilda Schultz, a beautiful and charming young German woman, was delighted to see him again. She falteringly told him that her husband had deserted her. George was badlyfrightened and Hilda was destitute. They rushed into each others arms and became lovers. On Monday morning, George reluctantly drove back to Karlsruhe. He had promised his firm that he would not leave before being assured that the Activatron was accepted and that payment would be forthcoming. However, on arrival at the gatehouse that afternoon, he witnessed a French army truck entering the complex without registering, or even so much as the driver speaking to a single guard. So that 's how they ship the plutonium! The French army just drives in