Atomic Energy Files, Lot 57 D 688

The Deputy Counselor of the Embassy in France (Terrill) to the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State (Arneson)

secret

Dear Gordon: In our recent conversation with the Ambassador,1 you mentioned that further consideration might be given to the question of access by the United States to French sources of uranium. In this event, the following summary may be helpful.

1. You will recall that, on May 23, 1950, several weeks after the dismissal of Joliot-Curie, the Under Secretary wrote to the Ambassador requesting his opinion as to the feasibility of approaching the French Government, with particular reference to Morocco. The Ambassador replied, in substance, on June 22, 1950, that such an approach did not seem advisable under prevailing circumstances but that the Embassy would like to be kept advised of any discussions with General Juin.2

2. We had no further word from the Department on this matter for about a year, during which time a number of favorable developments occurred, including the revision of the French AEC statutes, the appointment of new Commissioners, and the achievement of close personal [Page 800] contacts by Embassy officers with French officials who were beginning to exercise a new leadership in atomic energy policy. In Despatch No. 2748, dated March 28, 1951,3 the Embassy summarized the existing situation from the standpoint of U.S. policy and explained in this context, that an approach to the French Government with regard to atomic energy materials would be an important and feasible element of a U.S. policy of “limited cooperation”.

3. In your letter of April 13, 1951,4 the Embassy’s opinion was requested regarding the problems mentioned in paragraph 1 above, with particular reference to specific steps that might be taken to initiate arrangements with the French Government. The Embassy replied, on April 26, 1951,4 outlining the current situation and favorable prospects for French cooperation. However, in view of certain experiences (Embassy Despatch No. 1148, Nov. 10, 1950),4 the Embassy stated that General Juin would undoubtedly require instructions from the Foreign Office before taking a major policy decision of the kind in question. In this regard, we cited the evident fact that the Protectorate Government in Morocco is wholly subsidiary to the Foreign Office.

4. In June 1951, the foregoing matters were discussed with Mr. Jesse Johnson (see my letter of June 26)4 and with Mr. Frank McQuiston on the occasion of their respective visits to Paris. The main conclusion was that, while an approach by the Embassy to the Foreign Office was an essential preliminary to any arrangement, it should be based on a specific, concrete proposition. We further thought that it might also prove desirable, depending on specific circumstances, for any private parties concerned to approach the local French officials of the overseas territory in question at the proper time. Finally, a number of suggestions were advanced by Johnson and McQuiston as to various inducements the U.S. might offer the French in connection with such approaches.

5. In a letter dated October 3, 1951,4 the Department outlined the thinking of the AEC on the subject of access to Moroccan sources of uranium and requested the Embassy’s comments as to the feasibility of negotiating a deal with Moroccan officials after clearance with an appropriate French Government official in Paris. Feeling that further speculation on this question would be of limited utility, the Embassy asked permission (Embtel 2143, Oct. 11, 1951)4 to obtain the personal views of authoritative French sources. These views were reported to the Department in the Embassy’s Despatch No. 1103, [Page 801] dated October 22, 1951,5 in which a Foreign Office official outlined the necessary procedures and expressed his views on the main considerations which the French Government would probably have in mind. The Embassy further reported (Embtel 2570, Oct. 31, 1951)5 that the general principle of U.S. access had been endorsed by a highly placed official in the Foreign Office.

6. In the eighteen month period covered by the foregoing exchange of communications, the following important developments occurred with respect to the French AEC and French policy:

(a)
The French AEC statutes were revised, and a new Commission consisting of non-Communists was appointed.
(b)
The government introduced a Bill in Parliament declaring inter alia that private prospecting and production of uranium ores should be encouraged.
(c)
A new Administrator, M. Guillaume, was appointed; a five-year program of reactor construction was agreed on by the Commission; and the question of security was brought to the fore in connection with a plan to eliminate Communist employees.
(d)
The prospect of future German activity in the AEC field gave rise to considerable discussion among French officials who informed the Embassy of their apprehensions.
(e)
The French-inspired project for a European Nuclear Research Laboratory successfully passed into the first active stage with the support of twelve Western European countries.
(f)
U.S. alignment with the French position on the Moroccan question at the General Assembly session6 helped to lessen the previous state of tension with regard to this territory which had increased following the transfer of General Juin and the appointment of General Guillaume as his successor.

The foregoing review suggests that the subject has been thoroughly explored with respect to the general issues involved and specific methods of approaching the French Government. It would also appear that the time is ripe for action by the U.S. inasmuch as the favorable circumstances that have prevailed for the past six months may not continue indefinitely. For example, an important official who has been most helpful to the U.S. in the atomic energy field is scheduled to leave Paris at the end of February for an assignment in another country.

The Embassy would be glad to be of any possible assistance to the Department in the event that renewed consideration is given to this matter.

Sincerely,

Bob
  1. Conversation not identified.
  2. General of the Armies Alphonse Pierre Juin, Commander-in-Chief of Allied Land Forces in Central Europe since September 1951; Resident General of Morocco, 1947–1951. The correspondence under reference is not printed. Documentation on United States policy with respect to Morocco is presented in volume v.
  3. Ante, p. 704.
  4. Not printed.
  5. Not printed.
  6. Not printed.
  7. Not printed.
  8. Not printed.
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  10. Not printed.
  11. Not printed.
  12. For documentation on this subject, see vol. ii, pp. 135 ff.