Department of State Atomic Energy Files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. R. Gordon Arneson, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
Subject: Informal U.S.-Belgian Technical Discussions
| Participants: | Secretary of State |
| Belgian Ambassador, Baron Silvercruys | |
| Professor M. de Hemptinne1 | |
| Mr. Paul Gerard2 | |
| Mr. R. Gordon Arneson |
The Belgian Ambassador expressed appreciation for the fact that the Belgian Government had been invited to send technical representatives to the United States to engage in informal discussions with qualified scientists and technicians of the Atomic Energy Commission concerning (a) radioisotopes, and (b) prospects of commercial power from atomic energy. He felt confident that the Belgian representatives would be glad to give any information concerning Belgian activities in the field of atomic energy which the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission might find useful. He expressed the hope that these informal discussions might be “just a beginning” rather than the end of mutually useful interchange of views. He was familiar with the limitations of domestic legislation but felt, nevertheless, that useful information could be given to his people.
The Secretary expressed his admiration for the steadfast manner in which the Belgian Government had carried out its undertakings under the 1945 1944] agreement. He hoped, too, that the present informal discussions might be found profitable to continue from time to time. He pointed out, however, that the McMahon Act of 1946 placed rather sharp limitations on the nature and extent of information that could be made available.
He expressed the view that within the limitations of domestic legislation and considerations of national security it would still be possible to give the Belgian representatives an accurate appraisal of the present status and obstacles to be overcome with regard to power possibilities. He stated that it was his understanding that some rather useful knowledge [Page 748] might be gained concerning radioisotopes and commented in passing that it might very well one day prove to be true that the most useful peacetime application of atomic energy would lay in this field.
In sum, the Secretary indicated that the time had not, in fact, arrived when the United States and the United Kingdom could give practical effect to their undertakings under section 9(a) of the 1945 [1944] agreement.
In commenting upon some of his experiences during the war with the Manhattan Project the Secretary made evident the magnitude of effort involved in any serious activity in this field not only in terms of financial outlay but materials, space, personnel, and industrial capacity as well.
At the conclusion of the talk, the Secretary suggested that if it proved feasible he would be glad to receive the Belgian representatives again to learn from them at first hand whether they had found the informal discussions useful.