891.2546/12–153: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
priority
847. To questions raised paragraphs one and two Deptel 556, November 23, (Indian thorium sulphate proposals) Bhabha’s and Bhatnagar’s joint reply received today reads verbatim:
- 1.
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“The raw material used is Indian monazite. The subsequent processing involves removal of rare-earth elements and uranium, leaving a fairly pure thorium sulphate analyzing as follows: Thorium 42 and 44 percent; thoria/total oxides 96.5 to 98 percent; phosphorous pentoxide/thoria 0.05 percent (approximately). When Trombay plant goes into operation approximately 180 tons of thorium sulphate of composition shown above will be available for sale to US Government per annum.”
“The chemicals used in treatment of monazite are caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, and small amounts of hydrofluoric acid. In producing the thorium nitrate from the sulphate, nitric acid and ammonia are used in addition to some of the above-mentioned chemicals.”
- 2.
- Re Department’s comments in paragraph one reference telegram, Bhatnagar told Corry today (a) India has about 20 tons only of the material in France. Rest was made at Alwaye (Travancore). (b) He expects Trombay plant ready commence operating “within six months”.
- 3.
- Re final paragraph reference telegram, Embassy made discreet inquiry and learned Indians unwilling sell partially-processed, non-commercial thorium-bearing substance for reasons implicit second sentence paragraph one above. (Indians intend keep uranium here till own requirements satisfied, save under most exceptional circumstances such as involved in offer of uranium ore to France for heavy water, and uranium substance to US for heavy water.) Re Department suggestion in paragraph under reference, Indians making us their best [Page 1730] offer as means of trying satisfy both sides price-wise, viz., thorium sulfate of grade indicated herein at $2.50 per pound.
- 4.
- Re paragraph one Department’s airgram 173, November 10,1 Embassy has made no reference whatever to uranium in these thorium sulphate negotiations because present talks have no connection with heavy water and uranium discussions which Indians held with USAEC in Washington in June. Embassy guided this position by Deptel 333, September 23.2
- 5.
- Re paragraph two reference airgram, Embassy informed Bhatnagar about points noted. Bhatnagar told Corry today that analysis given in paragraph one this telegram clearly indicates that amounts aluminum and titanium present “negligible”.
- 6.
- Embassy desirous if possible to expedite the negotiations and would appreciate Department’s instructions.3