811.659 Helium/131: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Wilson)
67. Your No. 239, May 12, 4 p.m.29 The President yesterday called into conference on the proposed exportation of helium to Germany the Secretary of the Interior, the Solicitor General, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Chief of Naval Operations. After the conference, an oral statement was given to the press to the effect that, under the law, an affirmative decision required the unanimous approval of six Cabinet officers, that one of these did not approve, and that as each one had the authority to use his own discretion the President had no authority to decide the matter. As the Secretary of the Interior has been reported in the press to the effect that he cannot approve the sale unless the Helium Act is amended, it would appear probable that the proposed sale will not take place.
- Not printed.↩