The Acting Secretary of State indicated he was very glad to receive the note
which had been presented to him and indicated that a formal reply would be
forthcoming in a few days time. He went on to say that the United States
Government could not over-emphasize its appreciation for the extremely
gratifying cooperation which it had received from Belgium in fulfillment of
the terms of the 1944 agreement. The United States Government welcomed the
opportunity to enter into the proposed discussions which it looked upon as a
resumption of the previous exploratory conversations which had been
undertaken in 1948 with Professor deHemptinne and Mr. Paul Gerard whom the
Belgian Government had designated for this purpose.
The Belgian Ambassador indicated that the Belgian Foreign Minister would be
returning to Brussels from New York on October 6. He hoped that a reply
could be in the Foreign Minister’s hands by that
[Page 545]
time. The Acting Secretary said that he thought this
could be done. The Belgian Ambassador went on to say that the Foreign
Minister would in all probability be greeted by a barrage of questions on
this matter both in Parliament and from the press. It seemed vital that he
should have some indication of this Government’s attitude on the questions
raised in the note verbale in order that he might
handle such questions in the most appropriate manner.
[Annex—Translation]
The Belgian Embassy to the
Department of State
top secret
Note Verbale
During his conversation with the Secretary of State on September 16, 1949
M. Van Zeeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, stated that he
reserved the right to raise at a later date the questions concerning
atomic energy which exist between Belgium and the United States.
Mr. Acheson replied that he was ready to discuss this question with M.
Van Zeeland whenever the latter believed it appropriate to raise it.
Certain recent events force the Belgian Government to raise again without
delay, the question of atomic energy.
On September 20, the Combined Policy Committee, composed of
representatives of the United States, Great Britain, and Canada, met in
Washington. According to the press the purpose of this meeting was to
study the possibility of extending the exchange of information on the
subject of atomic energy and of revising the allocation of uranium ore
originating in the Belgian Congo.
In this connection the Belgian Government desires to recall that in
accordance with the terms of the Agreement concluded in 1944 with
respect to uranium, it has been understood that Belgium would
participate in the utilization of atomic energy for industrial
purposes.
Belgium has fulfilled the provisions of this agreement which devolve upon
it by delivering uranium ore in accordance with the agreed
provisions.
On the other hand it (Belgium) has not received, as of this date, any
precise indication as to the manner in” which the governments, to
[Page 546]
which it had promised the
exclusive delivery of uranium ore, intend to fulfill the obligation
stipulated in section 9a of the 1944
Agreement.
On October 3, 1947, M. P. H. Spaak, Foreign Minister of Belgium, when
stating to Mr. Marshall, Secretary of State of the United States, the
reasons Why he desired that the above mentioned agreement be made
public, suggested certain measures with a view of insuring the
participation of Belgium in the application of atomic energy for
industrial purposes. At that time, Mr. Marshall replied that the
question would be submitted to an immediate study, the results of which
would be communicated to M. Spaak.1
Three months later the Secretary of State was reminded of this exchange
of views in a letter from the Ambassador of Belgium dated January 19,
1948.2 Upon delivering it to
him on the following day, Baron Silvercruys explained again the purpose
and the reasons for the requests of the Belgium Government. Mr. Marshall
was kind enough to give assurances that the United States was determined
to fulfill the obligations which it had undertaken in this matter.
The Belgian Government is desirous to recall certain developments which
have taken place in the association of American private industry in the
production of atomic energy: a program of cooperation has been defined
by the proper authorities; organs have been set up to implement this
program; certain forms of cooperation are already in process.
On October 6, 1947, Mr. David E. Lilienthal, Chairman of the United
States Atomic Energy Commission, made some statements at Detroit
defining a program of participation on the part of American industry in
the production and utilization of atomic energy.3
On the same day the United States Atomic Energy Commission established an
Industrial Advisory Group composed of leading figures of industry and
commerce with a twofold purpose: first, to assist the Atomic Energy
Commission in making rapid progress in the direction of the practical
application of atomic energy by private industry; second, to enable the
members of this Commission to inform American industry of the
developments and the extensive activities of the Commission in the field
of scientific research, within the bounds of security requirements.
Furthermore, a program of technical cooperation was decided upon by the
United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada at the beginning of 1948:
it does not include information concerning weapons.
[Page 547]
On December 15, 1948, the Industrial Advisory Group made its report to
the Atomic Energy Commission.4
On August 15, 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission formed a special
advisory committee for the purpose of recommending means of establishing
a continuous collaboration between itself and the electric power
industry.
Following on the work of the Industrial Advisory Group, the American
Atomic Energy Commission established a program for the development of
various types of nuclear reactors.
A technical conference, in which representatives of the United States,
United Kingdom, and Canada participated, met in London at the end of
September for the purpose of examining problems related to prospecting,
extraction and processing of radioactive ores, which are the raw
material of the atomic energy industry.
Furthermore, as has been mentioned above, the Government of the United
States is engaged in negotiations with the British and Canadian
Governments on subjects which, according to American newspapers, touch
not only on the use of atomic energy but also involve the question of
Congo uranium ore.
The developments which have just been mentioned confirm the opinion of
the Belgian Government that it is imperative to reexamine the means of
implementing the Agreement and, in particular, the means of implementing
section 9a.
The Belgian Government proposes therefore that conversations begin as
soon as possible with a view to discussing and, if possible, resolving
the questions raised in this present note.
It would be appreciated if the American Government would make known its
suggestions on this matter.
The Belgian Government believes it useful to invite attention to two
related points.
It may be recalled that the British Government participated in the
Agreement of 1944 and inquires when and how it might be appropriate to
associate the latter in the proposed conversations.
Finally, the Belgian Government, having in mind the numerous allusions
made by the press to the existence of the Agreement, is constrained to
state that its secrecy has not been maintained as had been desired, and
would like to examine, in concert with the United States Government,
whether a joint declaration on this subject might not be
appropriate.
Washington, September 29,
1949.
