Roosevelt Papers
The Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development (Bush) to the President
Dear Mr. President: Pursuant to your instructions contained in your letter of July twentieth,1 I have proceeded to arrange for further interchange with the British on the subject of Tubealloy .
This matter was, in fact, raised by the Prime Minister while I was in London and there were conferences there in which Secretary Stimson participated.2 In response to your cable to the Prime [Page 652] Minister,3 Sir John Anderson arrived in this country this week and there have been further conversations here. We asked him to indicate definitely the way in which the present American policy should be altered or supplemented in order to provide for interchange as desired by the British, and he has done so in a letter,4 a copy of which I enclose. I have replied to this, and enclose a copy of my reply,5 the substance of which has been approved by Secretary Stimson and General Marshall. Unfortunately, Mr. Wallace has been out of the city this week so that I could not consult him, but I feel sure that he will also approve the arrangements. I have also informed the members of the Military Committee on this subject, General Styer and Admiral Purnell, of developments. Finally, I enclose a copy of a brief letter dated August 6,6 in which Sir John Anderson indicates that our agreement is satisfactory to him.
In my opinion this exchange of letters provides adequately for appropriate interchange, with due regard to the maintenance of security, and with the object of providing the British with all of the information which they can utilize in this connection in the prosecution of the war, in return for the benefit of the deliberations of their own scientific and technical groups.
Sir John Anderson has now written me a further letter7 concerning details of interchange, but I feel this should go before the Combined Policy Committee as soon as it is formed.
You will note that my reply gave no comments concerning the first four points, which are matters of broad international agreement. I understand that the Prime Minister has advised Secretary Stimson of these suggestions. There has, of course, been some discussion of these during the course of my consultations, and I have encountered some strong opinions concerning them, but you will undoubtedly wish to consult on this broad aspect of the matter directly rather than through me.
I have attempted to bring about the extended and renewed interchange which you desire, in an appropriate and effective manner, without introducing any step which could be regarded as either improper or improvident. Our thought has been guided by the conviction that all steps taken at this time should be solely for the purpose of winning the war at the earliest possible moment. I trust you will feel that this attempt has been successful, and that we may have your further instructions.
[Page 653]At your convenience I shall of course be happy to report to you upon other aspects of my recent journey.
Respectfully yours,
Director