Department of State Atomic Energy Files
Draft Report to the Combined Policy Committee by a
Sub-Committee21
top secret
[Washington, February 15, 1946.]
The Sub-Committee (Major General L. R. Groves, the Hon. L. R. Pearson, and
Mr. Roger Makins) was appointed by the Combined Policy Committee on December
4th to draw up, in accordance with
[Page 1208]
the Memorandum signed by the President and the Prime Ministers of the
United Kingdom and Canada, a document to take the place of the Articles of
Agreement signed at Quebec on August 19th, 1943. The Sub-Committee was
instructed that this revised document should be in the form of an executive
agreement, and that the obligation in the fourth provision of the Quebec
Agreement should be eliminated.
- 2.
- The Sub-Committee has held three meetings. It has had before it the
Quebec Agreement; the Agreement and Declaration of Trust signed on June
13th, 1944; and the Memorandum addressed to the Chairman of the Combined
Policy Committee by General Groves and Sir John Anderson on November
16th.
- 3.
- The Sub-Committee considered the fourth provision of the Quebec
Agreement in the light of the discussion in the Combined Policy
Committee on this point. It concluded that this matter could best be
dealt with by an exchange of letters between the President and the Prime
Minister in the form set out in Annex A to this report.
- 4.
- The Sub-Committee agreed upon the text of a Memorandum of Agreement
between the three Governments. This text is contained in Annex B to this
report.
- 5.
- The Sub-Committee also agreed on the revised text of the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust between the three governments. This text is
contained in Annex C to this report.
Annex A—Part I
Draft Letter From President to Prime Minister
I have given full consideration to the Fourth Provision of the Articles
of Agreement governing collaboration between the authorities of the
United States of America and the United Kingdom in the matter Tube
Alloys signed by President Roosevelt and Mr. Winston Churchill at Quebec
on August 19th, 1943.
- 2.
- I have also taken into consideration the Memorandum of Agreement
signed at … and … on …, 1946, providing for the continuation of
co-operation in the field of atomic energy between the Governments
of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
- 3.
- In view of the provisions of this Memorandum of Agreement of …
1946, I hereby determine and declare that it is fair and just, and
in harmony with the economic welfare of the world that there should
be no restrictions placed upon the Government of the United Kingdom
in the matter of the development and use of Atomic Energy for
industrial or commercial purposes.
[Page 1209]
Annex A—Part II
Draft Reply to President From Prime Minister
I have received your letter of . . . . . . . . . . . and on behalf of the
Government of the United Kingdom I take note of and accept the
determination and declaration which you have made under the Fourth
Provision of the Articles of Agreement governing collaboration between
the authorities of the United States of America and the United Kingdom
in the matter of Tube Alloys signed by President Roosevelt and Mr.
Winston Churchill at Quebec on August 19th, 1943.
Annex B
Draft Memorandum of Agreement
whereas the President of the United States,
the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Prime
Minister of Canada have expressed the desire that there should be full
and effective cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom
and Canada in the field of atomic energy;
whereas for this purpose the Combined Policy
Committee already established should be continued in existence; and
whereas a Combined Development Trust has been
set up for the purpose of acquiring supplies of uranium ores and
concentrates and thorium minerals;
The Government of the United States, the Government of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of Canada are
agreed as follows:
- 1.
- None of the three Governments will use atomic weapons against
other parties without prior consultation with each of the other
two governments.
- 2.
- None of the three Governments will disclose any information to
or enter into negotiations concerning atomic energy with other
governments or authorities or persons in other countries except
in accordance with agreed common policy or after prior
consultation with each of the other two Governments.
- 3.
- Each of the three Governments will take measures so far as
practicable to secure control and possession, by purchase or
otherwise, of all deposits of uranium and thorium situated in
areas comprising respectively the United States, its territories
or possessions, the United Kingdom and its colonial
dependencies, and Canada. They will also, severally or jointly,
use every endeavour with respect to the remaining territories of
the British Commonwealth and other countries to acquire all such
supplies of uranium ores and concentrates and thorium minerals
as may be agreed to be desirable. All supplies acquired under
the
[Page 1210]
provisions of
this paragraph will be subject to allocation by the Combined
Policy Committee.
- 4.
- The supplies acquired under the arrangements provided for in
the preceding paragraph shall be allocated by the Combined
Policy Committee to the three Governments in such quantities as
may be needed, in the common interest, for scientific research,
military and humanitarian purposes. Such supplies as are not
allocated for these purposes and are not already in the
ownership of the Combined Development Trust, shall be offered
for sale to the Trust. The disposal of unallocated supplies
shall be determined by the Combined Policy Committee at a later
date in the light of the then existing conditions and on a fair
and equitable basis. Supplies in the ownership of the Trust
allocated to any Government will be transferred to that
Government by the Trust under such arrangements as may be
determined upon by the Combined Policy Committee.
- 5.
- The Combined Policy Committee will settle the policy to be
followed in the mining and producing of uranium ores and
concentrates and thorium minerals, and the Combined Development
Trust will not be obliged to purchase supplies mined and
produced otherwise than in accordance with the policy thus laid
down.
- 6.
- There shall be full and effective cooperation between the
three Governments in regard to the exchange of information
concerning atomic energy required for their respective
programmes of atomic energy development. This exchange will be
implemented by arrangements approved from time to time by the
Combined Policy Committee.
- 7.
- The Combined Policy Committee, already established and
composed of six members, three from the United States, two from
the United Kingdom, and one from Canada, shall carry out the
policies set out in the present Memorandum subject to the
control of the respective Governments. To this end, the
Committee shall:
- 1.
- Review from time to time the general programme of work
being carried out in the three countries.
- 2.
- Allocate materials in accordance with the principles
set forth in the fourth paragraph above.
- 3.
- Settle any questions which may arise concerning the
interpretation and application of arrangements
regulating cooperation between the three
Governments.
- 8.
- This Memorandum of Agreement supersedes all agreements
relating to atomic energy existing between the three Governments
or any two of them prior to the date hereof, with the exception
of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust signed on . . . . . .
. . . . . . , the Patents Memorandum of October 1st, 1943 as
modified by subsequent agreement on September 19th, 1944 and
March 8th, 1945,21a and
the
[Page 1211]
Exchange of
Letters between the Acting Secretary of State and His Majesty’s
Ambassador of September 19th and 24th, 1945.22
- 9.
- The provisions of the present agreement are subject to any
wider agreements for the control of atomic energy to which all
the three governments may subsequently become parties.
Annex C
Re-Draft of Declaration of Trust
this agreement and declaration of trust is
made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by . . . . . . . . . . . . on
behalf of the Government of the United States of America, by . . . . . .
. . . . . . on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, and by . . . . . . . . . . . . on behalf
of the Government of Canada, (the said Governments being hereinafter
referred to as “the three Governments”);
whereas it is in the common interest of the
three Governments to ensure, the acquisition of an adequate supply of
uranium ores and concentrates and thorium minerals; and
whereas it is the intention of the three
Governments to secure to the fullest extent practicable supplies of
uranium ores and concentrates and thorium minerals within the boundaries
of such areas as come under their respective jurisdictions; and
whereas it has been agreed that the three
Governments will use every endeavor to acquire all such supplies of
uranium ores and concentrates and thorium minerals situated in
territories outside their jurisdiction as may be agreed to be desirable;
and
whereas it has been decided to establish a
joint organization for the purpose of securing supplies of uranium ores
and concentrates and thorium minerals;
now it is hereby agreed and declared as
follows:
- 1.
-
- (1) There is established in the City of Washington,
District of Columbia, a Trust known as “The Combined
Development Trust” (hereinafter called “the
Trust”).
- (2) The Trust shall be composed of and administered by
six persons, three from the United States, two from the
United Kingdom and one from Canada, who shall be
appointed, and be subject to removal, by the Combined
Policy Committee established by the three
Governments.
- (3) The Trust shall carry out its functions under the
direction and guidance of and as agent of the Combined
Policy Committee.
- 2.
- The Trust shall use its best endeavours to develop the
production of uranium ores and concentrates and thorium minerals
and for
[Page 1212]
that purpose
shall take such steps as it may in the common interest think fit
to:
- (a)
- Explore and survey sources of uranium ores and
concentrates and thorium minerals.
- (b)
- Develop the production of uranium ores and
concentrates and thorium minerals by the acquisition of
mines and ore deposits, mining concessions or
otherwise.
- (c)
- Provide with equipment any mines or mining works for
the production of uranium ores and concentrates and
thorium minerals.
- (d)
- Survey and improve the methods of production of
uranium ores and concentrates and thorium
minerals.
- (e)
- Acquire and undertake the concentration and disposal
of uranium and thorium materials.
- (f)
- Provide storage and other facilities.
- (g)
- Undertake any functions or operations which conduce to
the effective carrying out of the purpose of the Trust
in the common interest.
- 3.
-
- (1) All uranium ores and concentrates and thorium
minerals and other property acquired by the Trust shall
be held by it in trust for the three Governments
jointly, and disposed of or otherwise dealt with only in
accordance with the direction of the Combined Policy
Committee.
- (2) The Trust is not obliged to acquire supplies mined
and produced otherwise than in accordance with mining
and production policy settled by the Combined Policy
Committee.
- (3) Supplies in the ownership of the Trust allocated
by the Combined Policy Committee to any government will
be transferred to that Government by the Trust.
- (4) The Trust shall submit such reports of its
activities as may be required from time to time by the
Combined Policy Committee.
- 4.
- For the purpose of carrying out its functions, the Trust shall
utilize whenever and wherever practicable the established
agencies of any of the three Governments, and may employ and pay
such other agents and employees as it considers expedient, and
may delegate to any agents or employees all or any of its
functions.
- 5.
- The Trust may acquire and hold any property in the name of
nominees.
- 6.
- All funds properly required by the Trust for the performance
of its functions shall be provided as to one-half by the
Government of the United States of America and as to the other
half by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
- 7.
- In the event of the Combined Policy Committee ceasing to
exist, the functions of the Committee under the Trust shall be
performed by such other body or person as may be designated by
the President for the time being of the United States of
America, the Prime Minister for the time being of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and
[Page 1213]
Northern Ireland, and the Prime Minister
for the time being of Canada.
- 8.
- This Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall supersede, as
from its date, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust made on
June 13th, 1944 by the President of the United States and the
Prime Minister of Great Britain. It shall remain in full force
and effect from the date hereof until terminated by mutual
consent on the request of any of the parties and shall be
subject to revision or extension at any time by mutual
consent.
(Signed) _______________________________
on behalf of the government of the united states of
america.
(Signed) _______________________________
on behalf of the government of the united kingdom
of great britain and northern ireland
(Signed) _______________________________
on behalf of the government of canada
