A.E.C. Files (Historical Doc. No.
225)
The British Lord President of the Council
(Anderson) to the Director of
the Office of Scientific Research and Development
(Bush)
most secret
Washington, 4th August,
1943.
My Dear Dr. Bush, Many thanks for your
letter of the 3rd August1 and the documents which you kindly sent me
with it.
As you know, the Prime Minister prepared some draft Heads of
Agreement after our meeting in London and sent a copy of them to
[Page 646]
Mr. Stimson.2 I have been working on
this document in the light of our talk and I now send you an
expanded version of it which I have entitled:—“Draft articles of
Agreement governing collaboration between the authorities of the
U.S.A. and the U.K. in the
matter of
Tube Alloys
”.
My idea is that we should try to reach agreement on a draft along
these lines and submit it as soon as possible to the President and
the Prime Minister for their consideration.
You will see that in the draft articles I have dealt with the broad
principles on which interchange of information should be conducted.
I contemplate, however, that there should be a second memorandum
setting out with greater precision and detail the arrangements which
should govern the direct interchange of information between the
groups in our two countries working on each section of the project.
If the wording of the document dated the 15th of December 1942,3 and enclosed in your
letter, were altered to make it clear that it applied to interchange
on this level only, I agree with you that it might well serve as a
basis for this second memorandum. The details would, of course, need
modification in the light of the programme of work agreed by the
combined Policy Committee; but I imagine that you always intended
that these arrangements should be reviewed and amended in the light
of alterations made from time to time in our respective
programmes.
The draft articles have been prepared in a form suitable for an
agreement between the U.S.A. and the
U.K. only. We shall, I think, have to discuss together and with the
Canadians the question of Canadian participation which would, of
course, necessitate appropriate changes in the form and wording. But
we need not let that delay us in our immediate task of settling the
kind of clauses which should be contained in the agreement, whether
the Canadians come in or not.
Finally, may I thank you very much for sending me the statement on
the possible use of radio-active material in warfare.4 This is a matter to which
we also have given some attention. I shall look forward to receiving
the more detailed report to which you refer, and I will, on my
return, at once have the results of our studies checked against
yours.
Yours very sincerely,
[Page 647]
[Enclosure]
Draft Agreement
Draft Articles of Agreement Governing
Collaboration Between the Authorities of the
U.S.A.
and the U.K. in
the Matter of Tube
Alloys
1. Whereas it is vital to our common safety in the present War to
bring the
Tube Alloys
project to fruition at the earliest moment; and whereas
this may be more speedily achieved if all available British and
American brains and resources are pooled; and whereas owing to
war conditions it would be an improvident use of war resources
to duplicate plants on a large scale on both sides of the
Atlantic and therefore a far greater expense will fall upon the
United States;
It is agreed between us
- First, that we will never use this agency against each
other.
- Secondly, that we will not use it against third
parties without each other’s consent.
- Thirdly, that we will not either of us communicate any
information about
Tube Alloys
to third parties except by mutual
consent.
- Fourthly, that in view of the heavy burden of
production falling upon the United States as the result
of a wise division of war effort, the British Government
recognize that any post-war advantages of an industrial
or commercial character shall be dealt with as between
the United States and Great Britain on terms to be
specified by the President of the United States to the
Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Prime Minister
expressly disclaims any interest in these industrial and
commercial aspects beyond what may be considered by the
President of the United States to be fair and just and
in harmony with the economic welfare of the
world.
- And Fifthly, that the following arrangements shall be
made to ensure full and effective collaboration between
the two countries in bringing the project to fruition:—
- (a)
- There shall be set up in Washington a Combined
Policy Committee composed of:—[blank.] The
functions of this Committee, subject to the
control of the respective Governments, will be:—
- (1)
- To agree from time to time upon the
programme of work to be carried out in the two
countries.
- (2)
- To keep all sections of the project under
constant review.
- (3)
- To allocate materials, apparatus and plant,
in limited supply, in accordance with the
requirements of the programme agreed by the
Committee.
- (4)
- To settle any questions which may arise on
the interpretation or application of this
Agreement.
- (b)
- There shall be complete interchange of
information and ideas on all sections of the
project between members of the Policy Committee
and their immediate technical advisers.
- (c)
- In the field of scientific research and
development there shall be full and effective
interchange of information and ideas between those
in the two countries engaged in the same sections
of the field.
- (d)
- In the field of design, construction and
operation of large-scale plants, interchange of
information and ideas shall be regulated by such
ad hoc arrangements as may,
in each section of the field, appear to be
necessary or desirable if the project is to be
brought to fruition at the earliest moment. Such
ad hoc arrangements shall
be subject to the approval of the Policy
Committee.
