Atomic Energy Files, Lot 57 D 688
Agreement Between the United States, the United Kingdom,
and Belgium
top secret
[
Washington
,] July 13, 1951.
Memorandum of Understanding
It is the understanding of the Governments of Belgium, the United Kingdom,
and the United States of America, that [Page 743]
- 1.
- The attached Joint Communiqué sets forth the understandings
reached by the three Governments as a result of negotiations on the
Memorandum of Agreement of September 26, 1944. The Communiqué will
be published simultaneously, in whole or in part as agreed, and on
an agreed date, if and when the Belgian Government finds it
advisable.
- 2.
- The method of bringing about the increase in revenue described in
paragraph 3 of the attached Joint Communiqué will be an increase on
the special tax on uranium ore exported from the Belgian Congo of
$0.60 per pound, commencing with the coming into effect of Part C,
Tab 2 (Rev).
- 3.
- The final paragraph of the Annex to the Joint Communiqué is to be
interpreted in the sense that when the three Governments are agreed
that the United States and United Kingdom Governments have decided
to employ uranium ores for commercial purposes, the Belgian
Government will have an equal right to utilize uranium ores for the
same purposes.
In connection with the foregoing understandings, the Belgian Government
pointed out the fact that it retains the right to make further tax
adjustments on the seller. The United States and United Kingdom Governments
recalled that under existing contractual provisions all taxes, including
export taxes, are to the account of the seller. Accordingly the United
States and United Kingdom Governments undertake to amend the existing
contractual arrangements with the seller so that the special tax of $0.60
per pound will be borne by the buyers.
Governor-General, Pierre Ryckmans
Belgian Commissioner for Atomic Energy
Gordon Dean
Chairman, United States
Atomic Energy Commission
Sir Oliver Franks
British Ambassador
[Annex]
Joint Communiqué and Annex re American, Belgian, and
British Understandings in the Atomic Energy Field
top secret
1. Understandings have been reached among Belgium, the United Kingdom and
the United States as the result of talks the three countries have had
from time to time to review arrangements governing the sale of Congo
uranium ores to the United Kingdom and the United States. These
arrangements, which sprang from wartime necessity as a military measure,
are incorporated in a Memorandum of Agreement dated September 26, 1944,
and expiring [sic]1 early in [Page 744] 1956. The substance of the Memorandum is attached.
Through these arrangements, Belgium and the Belgian Congo have made an
important contribution to the common defense of the democratic
nations.
2. In the talks, the three Governments discussed methods of implementing
the Anglo-American undertakings to Belgium included in the 1914
arrangements regarding eventual utilization of Congo ores as a source of
energy for commercial power. The American and British representatives
stated that the commercial use of atomic energy was still some
appreciable distance away. It was decided, however, that Belgium and the
Belgian Congo should take those steps best calculated to prepare them to
make use of the advantages which it is envisaged will stem from the
Anglo-American undertakings. To this end and in accord with the spirit
of their obligations, the American and British Governments have agreed
to furnish financial and technical assistance in support of a Belgian
atomic energy program as outlined in paragraphs three and four
respectively.
3. Uranium is a Belgian Congo resource, and substantial sums have accrued
to the Belgian Congo Government through the medium of the duty and
surcharge on the export of uranium ores. In addition thereto, and taking
into account the special position accorded Belgium by the 1944
arrangements, the Governments of the United Kingdom and of the United
States recognize that there should be a considerable increase in revenue
accruing to the Belgian Congo from uranium to support a Belgian atomic
energy research program which will enhance the value of this Congo
asset. Accordingly, besides duties levied in accordance with existing
legislation and in consideration of the circumstances mentioned in
paragraph 2, a supplementary amount, which, if deliveries continue at
the anticipated rate during the remainder of the agreement, would
produce about $2,500,000.00 per annum, will be paid during this period
to the Belgian Congo.
4. As regards technical assistance, it has been decided that the most
valuable contribution the United States and the United Kingdom can make
for the time being would be assistance directed toward the prompt
development of a well-trained corps of Belgian scientists and engineers
in the field of atomic energy. To this end, the American and British
Governments have agreed to:—
- (a)
- Assist selected Belgian students to find facilities for
advanced study and research in unclassified fields in American
and British universities;
- (b)
- Facilitate Belgian access to American and British declassified
material and facilities, including visits to unclassified work
being carried out under the auspices of the United States Atomic
Energy Commission and the British Ministry of Supply;
- (c)
- Furnish Belgium certain declassified technology, equipment and
materials needed for its atomic energy research program, which
program might include a research reactor;
- (d)
- Arrange for close Belgian participation as agreed upon from
time to time in the mutual exchange of technical information on
the exploration, location, mining, processing and extraction of
radioactive ores;
- (e)
- Give advance notice to Belgium concerning the distribution as
between the United States and the United Kingdom to be made of
any shipments from the Belgian Congo of such ores.
5. In order to facilitate the carrying out of these measures, the Belgian
Government has added to its Embassy staffs in Washington and London
liaison officers with appropriate background and training in these
scientific fields. These officers maintain liaison between the official
organization in Belgium responsible for the direction of atomic energy
activities and the United States Atomic Energy Commission and the
British Ministry of Supply.
6. The assistance outlined above is regarded as an initial step toward
closer cooperation among the three governments in keeping with the
spirit of the 1944 arrangements; it is agreed that further talks will be
held from time to time with a view toward devising means whereby a
closer association may be brought about as soon as future developments
warrant.
[
Washington
,] July 13,
1951.
[Subannex]
Substance of Memorandum of Agreement of September 26,
1944
2
top secret
The Belgian Government agreed with the Governments of the United States
and the United Kingdom as to the desirability during the war against
Germany and Japan, as well as in the future, that all uranium ores
wherever located should be subject to effective control for the
protection of civilization. To this end, the Government of Belgium
undertook to insure effective control of such ores located in all
territory subject to the authority of Belgium.
The Belgian Government also agreed that Congo uranium ores should be made
available to the United States and the United Kingdom through commercial
contracts. The Belgian Government further undertook to use its best
endeavors to supply such quantities of uranium ores as might be required
by the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom.
To aid in the reopening and development of the Congo uranium properties,
the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom undertook to
facilitate the delivery to the producing company (the Union Minière du
Haut Katanga) of such materials and equipment as the parties to the
contracts thought necessary.
[Page 746]
The arrangements outlined above were arrived at on the understanding that
Belgium would reserve for herself such reasonable quantities of uranium
ores as might be required for her own scientific and industrial
purposes. The Belgian Government, however, in deciding to utilize such
ores as a source of energy for commercial power, would do so in
consultation and in agreement with the Governments of the United States
and of the United Kingdom. The latter, on their part, agreed that the
Belgian Government should participate on equitable terms in the
utilization of these ores as a source of energy for commercial power at
such time as the two Governments should decide to employ the ores for
this purpose.
[
Washington
,] July 13,
1951.
