The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Spook) to the American Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)2
[Brussels,] September 26, 1944.
Your Excellency: With reference to the discussions
which have been taking place between representatives of the Belgian
Government and of the Governments of the United States of America and of the
United Kingdom on the subject of uranium and thorium ores, I now have
pleasure in sending herewith a Memorandum of Agreement annexed to this
letter setting out the arrangements which have been agreed as a result of
these discussions.
I am authorized to inform you that the provisions of the annexed Memorandum
of Agreement meet with the approval of the Belgian Government. I therefore
propose that, if they also meet with the approval of the Governments of the
United States of America and of the United Kingdom, this letter together
with your reply so informing me shall constitute an Agreement between the
three Governments which will come into effect from today’s date.
Please accept [etc.]
[Page 1029]
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of Agreement Between the United States, the
United Kingdom, and Belgium Regarding Control of Uranium
- 1.
- The Government of Belgium agrees with the Government of the United
States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland that it is desirable that during the
present war against Germany and Japan and in the future all uranium
and thorium ores wherever located should be subject to effective
control for the protection of civilization, and to this end the
Government of Belgium will insure effective control of said ores
located in all territory subject to the authority of Belgium.
- 2.
- As a result of the discussions which have accordingly been
proceeding between the Governments of the United States of America
and of the United Kingdom on the one hand and the Government of
Belgium on the other hand it has been agreed that a contract shall
be entered into between the Combined Development Trust acting as
agent for the Governments of the United States of America and the
United Kingdom and the African Metals Corporation acting for the
producing company (Union Minière du Haut Katanga) for the delivery
by the said corporation to the said trust of uranium ore and ore
concentrates containing approximately 3,440,000 pounds of uranium
oxide.
- 3.
- The Belgian Government undertake to insure the delivery of uranium
ore concentrates containing approximately 3,440,000 pounds of
uranium oxide in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
above mentioned contract.
- 4.
- The Governments of the United States of America and of the United
Kingdom undertake to insure that the Combined Development Trust take
delivery of the said uranium ore and ore concentrates in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the above mentioned
contract.
- 5.
- The Governments of the United States of America and of the United
Kingdom undertake to facilitate the delivery to the producing
company (Union Minière du Haut Katanga) of such materials as the
parties to the contract agree to be necessary for the reopening and
development of the mine at which the said ore and ore concentrates
will be produced.
- 6.
- For the period required for the completion of the contract
referred to in paragraph 2 above and for a further period of ten
years the Belgian Government grant to the Governments of the United
States of America and of the United Kingdom the first refusal of all
uranium and thorium ores produced in the Belgian Congo, subject to
the right of the Belgian Government to reserve such reasonable
quantities of the said ores as may be required for her own
scientific research and for her own industrial purposes exclusive of
any process involving
[Page 1030]
the use of such ores as a source of energy except as provided in
paragraph 9 below.
- 7.
- The Belgian Government undertake to control in accordance with the
agreement recorded in paragraph 1 above the use of ores reserved as
provided for in the preceding paragraph.
- 8.
- During the periods referred to in paragraph 6 above the Belgian
Government undertake to use their best endeavors to supply such
quantities of uranium and thorium ores as may be required by the
Governments of the United States of America and of the United
Kingdom solely for military and strategic purposes.
- 9.
- As regards the use of the above mentioned ores as a source of
energy the following arrangement shall apply:—
- (a)
- In the event of the Governments of the United States of
America and of the United Kingdom deciding to utilize as a
source of energy for commercial purpose ores obtained under
this agreement the said Governments will admit the Belgian
Government to participation in such utilization on equitable
terms.
- (b)
- The Belgian Government undertake that, in the event of
their contemplating the use of such ores as a source of
energy, they will so use them only after consultation and in
agreement with the Governments of the United States of
America and of the United Kingdom.
- 10.
- This Memorandum of Agreement shall be treated as a military secret
in keeping with its purpose.