Department of State Atomic Energy Files1
Memorandum by the Executive Secretary of the National
Security Council (Souers)
top secret
Washington, February 10,
1949.
Memorandum for: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of
Defense
The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
Subject: Atomic Energy Policy vis-à-vis UK and Canada
The President has designated the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense
and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission as a Special Committee of
the National Security Council to prepare recommendations for his
consideration on the above subject. This action was taken by the President
in accordance with the recommendation by the Secretary of State contained in
enclosed memorandum.
As suggested by the Secretary of State, it is requested that each member of
the Special Committee furnish me with the names of two representatives to
constitute a staff to prepare appropriate studies for consideration by the
Committee.2
[Annex]
Memorandum by the Secretary of
State to President Truman
top secret
Washington, February 10,
1949.
Subject: Atomic Energy Policy
The wartime relations of this Government with the United Kingdom and
Canada in the field of atomic energy, involving the allocation of raw
materials and the exchange of information, had as their prime aim the
production of atomic weapons in this country in the shortest possible
time. After the war exchange of information was continued on a reduced
scale in areas of mutual advantage which did not include information on
the production of plutonium or atomic weapons. Allocation of raw
materials (available principally from the Belgian Congo under a
U.S.–U.K.–Belgium agreement entered into in September of 1944) continued
to be made under the aegis of the Combined Policy Committee. These
allocations assured supplies adequate for our atomic energy program.
The United Kingdom is presently embarked on a program aimed at the
production of atomic weapons, a goal they expect to reach in
[Page 430]
from two and one-half to four
years. In September 1948 the United Kingdom asked this Government for
information on plutonium production and atomic weapons. This request has
not been answered to date. Only by a most thorough-going consideration
of all factors involving the common defense and security can a wise
decision be taken.
In addition to the problems presented by our relations with the United
Kingdom and Canada, consideration also needs to be given to our
relations to other countries friendly to our cause which have made
modest beginnings in the field of atomic energy and which have sought
our help.
Staff members of the Department of State, the National Military
Establishment, and the Atomic Energy Commission have given considerable
study to these matters in recent weeks. In order, however, to assure
that all facets may be fully explored I should like to recommend that
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of
the Atomic Energy Commission, who are the American members of the
Combined Policy Committee, be designated by you as a special committee
of the National Security Council to prepare recommendations for your
consideration. I suggest that they should each furnish appropriate staff
from their respective agencies who would work under the direction of Mr.
Sidney Souers in the preparation of the necessary staff studies.
Approved: Feb. 10, 1949
Harry S. Truman
