Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

852.2546/12–451 : Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Spain

secret

Washington, December 6, 1951—9:56 a. m.

441. For the Ambassador.

1. Believe you shld see Franco soon to follow up Murray’s conversation (Embtel 535, Nov 21, and Embtel 576, Dec 4).¹ This may be made overt purpose your call.

2. Objective is to lay basis for firm govt to govt understanding on:

a. A declaration of intent on the part of Spain to sell and permit the export to US of uranium ore, if and when found, in excess of minimum Spanish requirements. Franco told Murray he did not wish to give such a declaration at that time.

b. A uranium exploration program in Spain. Franco has already indicated to Commissioner Murray that he wld approve this. (Embdes 387, Oct 22²).

3. During your call on Franco you Shld ask whether he can give a further response on point 2a. You may say that US is prepared, after Spanish declaration of intent, to provide technical assistance and technical personnel for an exploration program. (See Deptel 385, Nov 15, Para 7³).

4. If the declaration of intent appears likely but clarification of type of technical assistance and technical personnel to be made available is required, you may say that you will request these details from your Govt. FYI a draft outline covering this subj could be promptly supplied. If absolutely necessary, AEC personnel can come to Madrid to complete the discussions and lay plans for the exploration program.

5. If, however, before discussing a declaration of intent, Franco desires additional info on nature US assistance, you shld respond as outlined in Para 5, Deptel 385, Nov. 15.⁴

6. Unless overriding political objections appear, the AEC wishes to utilize Westinghouse to administer the exploration program, assuming basis for such program has first been arranged between govts, but wld expect assign geologists to Westinghouse for this purpose.

Webb

1. Neither printed.
2. For memorandum by Commissioner Murray, October 19, transmitted to Washington as the enclosure to the reference despatch, see p. 778.
3. Telegram 385 to Madrid is not printed. Paragraph 7 reads as follows: “FYI, the primary interest of the US in this matter is to obtain uranium ore and, unless there is some hope of working out an arrangement to accomplish this, it is doubtful that any useful purpose could be served by a discussion of other aspects of the present proposal.” (852.2546/11–1551)
4. The reference paragraph reads as follows: “If the Spanish authorities respond to your inquiry on this matter with a request for information as to the kind of assistance which US might offer, you should point out that, while US in general would be prepared to provide some assistance, no detailed thought has been given to the problem pending some indication that such a project could result in additional supplies of uranium ore for US and the defense of the Western World.” (852.2546/11—1551)