Acquisition of materials for use in the development of the atomic bomb; efforts to establish a system of international control of atomic energy

[For documents relating to earlier discussions among high officials of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada with regard to the development and control of atomic energy, see the subsequent volumes of this series containing documents on the conferences of Heads of Governments held at Washington, Casablanca, and Quebec in the years 1941–1944. A detailed narrative account is given in Richard G. Hewlett and Oscar E. Anderson, Jr., The New World, 1939/1946, which is volume I of A History of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (University Park, Pa., The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1962), hereinafter cited asThe New World, 1939 1946.

President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill had agreed at Hyde Park, New York, on September 18, 1944, that full collaboration between the United States and the British Government in developing Tube Alloys, i.e., atomic energy, for military and commercial purposes should continue after the defeat of Japan unless and until terminated by joint agreement. During the remaining months of 1944 various discussions were held among United States officials, and occasionally with British officials as well, on such subjects as postwar arrangements, security, disclosure of information, international control, patents, and relations with other governments. Secretary of State Stettinius and Assistant Secretary James C. Dunn were informed of the atomic project in January 1945 (The New World, 1939/1946, pages 322–335).]

[Page 2]

[31] The Canadian Ambassador (Pearson) to the Secretary of State

811.2423/11–3045


[35] Minutes of a Meeting of the Combined Policy Committee

SCI Files


[36] The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Halifax)

811.2423/11–2945


[37] The Secretary of State to the Canadian Ambassador (Pearson)

811.2423/11–3045


[38] Memorandum by an Informal Interdepartmental Committee

Lot 55D 540 Box 266


[39] The Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State

Lot 55D 540 Box 266


[40] Memorandum by the Secretary of War (Patterson) to the Secretary of State

Lot 55D 668, Box 2380


[41] The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

500.CC (PC)/12–2845: Telegram