Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, National Security Affairs, Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

Department of State Atomic Energy Files

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. R. Gordon Arneson, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State (Webb)

top secret

[Washington,] October 5, 1949.

Subject: Attached Note Regarding Belgium Uranium

Participants:	The Acting Secretary of State
	The Belgian Ambassador
	Mr. Arneson

In handing the attached note to the Belgian Ambassador, the Acting Secretary of State made the following comment: “I am glad to be able to give you the views of the Department and the Atomic Energy Commission as reflected in this note. I know you will appreciate that at this stage only the general aspects of the points your Government has raised can be answered. I am confident that the representatives of our respective governments will be able to discuss the various problems in detail and I know this can be done in a most friendly fashion as a continuation of the conversations with Professor deHemptinne and Mr. Gerard last year.”

After reading the note the Belgian Ambassador asked for clarification of the following language: “It should be noted that the cooperative arrangements between the Atomic Energy Commission and American industry referred to by the Belgian Ambassador have two principal purposes: (1) to broaden the base of industrial participation in the current program which is directed primarily toward weapons production, and (2) to make available industrial technology resulting from the atomic energy program which may have general application in industry.” The Acting Secretary and Mr. Arneson explained that it was felt necessary to point out that the cooperative arrangements being entered into with industry did not in fact involve making available to industry atomic energy processes as such, but rather such techniques and technology which had been gained over the past several years in the atomic energy program which might be found to have general industrial application. The other aspect of these arrangements involved an attempt to secure greater assistance from industry in improving efficiency of the program which is directed primarily toward weapons manufacture. Whether it would be possible for Belgium to benefit from the first aspect of these arrangements would, of course, need to be explored by the appropriate technicians in the later discussions.

The Acting Secretary said that it was his understanding that the Belgian Foreign Minister had recently raised informally two points with Mr. Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission. The first had to do with Belgium’s being represented at any future meetings regarding allocations of Congo uranium, and the second concerned the possibility of having Belgian scientists work in the United States on atomic energy. On these two points the Acting Secretary made the following comments: “With reference to the first point, as the press has reported recently, the first stage of the atomic energy discussions amongst the United States, United Kingdom, and Canadian Governments has been concluded but will be resumed in due course after each side has had a chance to study proposals made. I can assure you that this Government has in mind keeping your Government informed regarding any significant developments resulting from these talks. Regarding the second point, it is hoped that the technical discussions will reveal additional lines of endeavor that might appropriately be pursued by Belgian scientists and technicians in this country in addition to those already being carried out as a result of the 1948 conversations.”

Concerning the designation of representatives it was suggested that inasmuch as the talks would be largely technical the General Manager of the Atomic Energy Commission and various members of his staff would be most directly involved. It was suggested that on the Belgian side it might be appropriate, in determining who should be designated, for the appropriate officials in Brussels to discuss the matter with Mr. Hugh Millard, the Counselor of Embassy. The Belgian Ambassador indicated that this seemed a useful way to proceed.

With regard to the note in general, the Belgian Ambassador stated that it seemed to him that, while it was couched in general terms, it was quite adequate for the time being. He expressed the hope that the further discussions which were planned for the near future might proceed on a completely frank and forthright basis. The Acting Secretary assured the Ambassador that it was the intention of the United States Government to discuss mutual problems with the designated Belgium representatives in precisely that fashion.

[Annex]

The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador (Silvercruys)

top secret

The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of Belgium and wishes to state that the views of the Belgian Government on certain aspects of the United States–United Kingdom–Belgium Uranium Agreement of September 26, 1944 as set down in a note verbale left with the Acting Secretary of State by the Ambassador on September 29, 1949 have been examined carefully by the Department of State in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Commission.

The Government of the United States is deeply appreciative of the genuine spirit of cooperation which Belgium has always shown in fulfilling its obligation under the referenced Agreement, and wishes to reiterate the assurances of Secretary of State Marshall furnished Prime Minister Spaak on March 12, 1948, that the United States will give full effect to the stipulations in favor of Belgium included in Clause 9 (a) of the Agreement.

Although the prospects are not hopeful for successful attainment of the objective of using atomic energy for industrial power, at least for some years, the United States Government is pushing research toward this end as rapidly as is practicable in the existing circumstances, having in view the predominant necessity of developing atomic energy for military purposes. At present, the only fruitful area of non-military application is in connection with the use of radioisotopes. Mr. Edgar Sengier is expected to arrive in the United States shortly and in the course of his visit it is understood he will discuss with the United States Atomic Energy Commission research uses of radioisotopes and means of distribution of these materials in Belgium. It should be noted that the cooperative arrangements between the Atomic Energy Commission and American industry referred to by the Belgian Ambassador, have two principal purposes (1) to broaden the base of industrial participation in the current program which is directed primarily toward weapons production and (2) to make available industrial technology resulting from the atomic energy program which may have general application in industry.

The United States Atomic Energy Commission will be glad to make available technical representatives to meet at an early date with such other Belgian representatives as may be designated to review the matters raised in the Ambassador’s note verbale. It is indicated that the General Manager and his staff will take direct interest in the progress of discussions.

At the conclusion of its note verbale, the Belgian Government has raised two questions to which the United States Government is prepared to answer now in part:

With respect to the question of representatives of the United Kingdom having participation in the conversations, the United States Government believes that this is not only desirable but in keeping with the spirit of the Tripartite Agreement of 1944 and in consequence has kept the United Kingdom Government fully informed regarding this matter.

With respect to the question of a public announcement regarding the Agreement, the United States Government believes that the Belgian Government, if it desires, in announcing that its representatives at the invitation of the United States Government will visit the United States to continue technical discussions initiated in August 1948 with Professor de Hemptinne and M. Gerard, might wish to refer to the continuance of the arrangements concerning uranium and the development of atomic energy entered into in September 1944 by the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom on one side and the Government of Belgium on the other, the first revelation of the existence of which was made by Prime Minister Spaak before the Belgian Senate on July 3, 1947 at which time he said:

“It was necessary, during the war, to provide the Allies with as large a quantity as possible of materials essential to the development of atomic energy. Consequently with the full approval of the Belgian Government, arrangements were concluded for the uranium ore of the Congo to be placed at the disposal of the United States and the United Kingdom.

“By those arrangements, the legitimate interests of Belgium were fully safeguarded. They are still in force, and the Belgian Government hopes that an international agreement concerning the control of atomic energy will be concluded soon, as a consequence of the work of the commission created within the United Nations. As soon as these results are obtained, the Belgian Government will quickly proceed to modify all its legislation on uranium accordingly.”

It would appear to the United States Government that a decision regarding further revelation of the nature of the arrangements should be made in the light of the outcome of the consultations between the technical representatives of the three Governments. The present disposition of the United States Government is to regard as not in the best mutual security interests of the three Governments concerned, any disclosure of such information as that pertaining to the duration of the Agreement, the ultimate tonnages of uranium ores involved and shipments to the United States and United Kingdom.

The Government of the United States understands that the United Kingdom Government is aware of the terms of the note verbale which the Belgian Ambassador left with the Acting Secretary on September 29. The Government of the United States has consulted the United Kingdom Government and understands that the latter is in agreement with the terms of this reply.

Washington, October 5, 1949.