855a.6359/5–1947: Telegram
The Chargé in Belgium ( Achilles ) to the Secretary of State
806. For Under Secretary Acheson from Achilles. Due abnormal transmission delay your 683 May 14, 8 p.m. received here only evening May 16 after Ambassador had sailed. This morning I gave Spaak memorandum1 giving full substance paragraphs 3 through 7 [Page 816] and indicating briefly concern indicated paragraphs 9 through 13, advising him that it had crossed his memorandum of May 14 in transmission (our 777 May 14).
After reading it he remarked it covered much ground and that he wished study it carefully before replying. He could however observe immediately that principal point of his memorandum of May 14 was being met in that you were already studying means of giving effect to paragraph 9–A. On secrecy aspect he noted you had advised Congressional Committee of duration and observed that any leakage on that would make last real secret point public knowledge. He said he would like at some point to reveal substance of 9–A to show that Belgian interests were protected by wartime agreements. Am confident this is point he is most interested in having made known.
I then developed orally concern reflected in paragraphs 9 through 13 your telegram. He said steps could be taken to safeguard research if necessary including appointment of new scientific commission (Ambassador and I continue skeptical on this point) and that any Belgian scientist sent to US would of course be most carefully picked. I inquired specifically as to practicability of enacting Belgian law along lines of McMahon Act. He said law could undoubtedly be adopted but that he believed it would be impossible to separate security of information aspect from nationalization of deposits and disposition of ore. He said Belgian public so far interested only in development of research in Belgium so that Belgium would profit from industrial utilization of atomic energy and as yet unconcerned over Communist participation in research or conscious of motives behind their campaign for Belgian research and attacks on policy of furnishing uranium to US and UK.
Ending conversation Spaak stated and reiterated that what he wanted from us was not secrets but results, in other words that he was not interested in having us reveal anything to Belgian scientists here or in US but was most interested in eventual use of atomic power from [for ?] Belgian industry.
Your assumption correct that there has been no complaint whatever from Right or Center concerning Communist infiltration into research. Belgian public well aware of Soviet obstructionism in UNO due to good press coverage but activities of atomic spy ring in Canada practically unknown here as there has been no publicity since original arrests. Neither Spaak nor I clearly understood your reference to relationship between UNO picture and Communist efforts here.
On whole question of lack of concern here at Communist infiltration and pressure I would comment that probably few people here are aware of it. In our desire to keep you fully informed we have reported every scrap of information on their activities which has come to our attention, primarily from Drapeau Rouge and Parliamentary debates, [Page 817] Very few Belgians other than Communists ever see Drapeau Rouge and Parliamentary questions on uranium by Communists have gotten minimal attention from press. Despite open nature their campaign they have thus succeeded in creating general interest in developing atomic energy in Belgium without, at least until now, attracting public attention to their role or motives. In discussing this with Spaak it is also necessary to bear in mind that, while he personally is sound, he is politician of party nearly half of whose council voted against party joining govt, without Communists. Will discuss with Sengier2 possibility encouraging backfire against Communists.
Am giving Hugessen copy of memorandum and advising him of conversation.