USSR 1933–1938 Dorothea Eltenton wrote a book describing the family's life in the USSR. This was a happy time, despite primitive conditions compared with England, and she writes admiringly of the
socialist society they experienced as it developed, with its community spirit, sexual equality and people's local democratic participation in decisions relating to work and public services. In particular they appreciated the free education and free health service. Her experience of maternity and post-natal care was favourably compared with that in the UK (a decade before the introduction of the
National Health Service). On vacations George Eltenton was able to enjoy his passions for
motorcycling and
rock climbing.
US 1938–1947 Eltenton was an open admirer of the USSR and its people. and was at a meeting where Robert Oppenheimer encouraged the formation of a section at the
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In 1939, with the beginning of the
Second World War he contacted the British Embassy to volunteer, but was told his work for the oil company was better use of his talents. In 1941 the USSR was invaded by Germany, and he and his wife became active members of the
Russian War Relief organization. In May 1942, after the US had also joined the war and was therefore an ally of the USSR, the Eltentons had Piotr Ivanov, the vice consul of the Soviet consulate in San Francisco as a dinner guest. It was there that Ivanov raised the possibility of atomic research being shared between the US and the USSR, and suggested three scientists who might be prepared to do so, if discretion could be assured. Eltenton was doubtful, but agreed to ask a mutual friend
Haakon Chevalier to suggest this to Oppenheimer. Chevalier reported back that Oppenheimer was not interested, but when the fact of the approach was revealed by Oppenheimer in 1946, Eltenton was interviewed by the FBI.
UK 1947–1991 Shortly after being named in testimony before the
House Un-American Activities Committee, the Eltentons returned to England. He first took a senior position at the Shell physics research laboratory, but after investigation by
MI5 was moved to an area solely concerned with refinery operations. ==Publications==