740.5/2–2652: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Office of the united States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn 1
26. 1. Agmt reached at London among three Fon Mins and with Adenauer did not constitute prohibition of manufacture of atomic weapons and other items so far agreed (re 3rd para Bonn’s 1682 to Dept, Feb 23, rptd Lisbon 17, London 453, Paris 5482). It merely provides basis whereby Gers agree to respect EDC decisions not to order production these items in strategically exposed areas (which everyone agrees to understand to mean the FedRep).
2. Moreover, London agrmts do in effect abrogate para 7 A (III) of Fon Mins Sept decisions. Other UK–Fr, and US drafts prepared by experts for consideration tripartite Mins did contain, though widely divergent on other points, exactly same language obligating Fed Govt “to maintain controls in field of atomic energy” and to maintain security check on researchers in this field. However, this provision was not referred to in Mins discussions and completely dropped out of agrmt with Adenauer. Therefore, agrmt only covers atomic weapons, not atomic energy, and must moreover be read in light of comments in para 1 of this tel.
3. US DEL here inclined to think HICOM Working Party’s definition (Bonn’s 1664 to Dept Feb 21, rptd Paris 535, London 444, Lisbon 93) is acceptable and next to last sentence thereof is ingenious if backhanded way of putting some limitation on production of nuclear fuel.