Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Western Europe and Canada, Volume XXVII

165. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 24, 1955¹

Washington, May 24, 1955

PARTICIPANTS

• Embassy of Sweden
  • Ambassador Erik Boheman
  • Mr. Erik von Sydow, Counselor
• Department of State
  • S/IAE—Ambassador Morehead Patterson, Mr. Bernhard G. Bechhoefer, Mr. Eric Stein
  • S/AE—Mr. Philip J. Farley
  • BNA—Mr. G. Hayden Raynor, Mr. Edwin D. Crowley

SUBJECT

• Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

Ambassador Boheman called at the Department’s invitation. Ambassador Patterson explained the U.S. research reactor program and handed Ambassador Boheman a form of an Agreement for Cooperation. He stressed that under this Agreement the U.S. would assist in the construction of research reactors which could be operated with six (6) kilograms of fissionable material to be leased by [from?] the U.S. He said that the Agreement was drawn in the simplest possible terms; one such Agreement was already initialed and we have given copies of the form Agreement to some 15 other countries. This Agreement for Cooperation is required under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954; it has to lie before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (JCAE) for 30 days while the Congress is in session. Since the Congress is expected to adjourn sometime in July, it would be necessary to have any such agreement initialed by June 15 if it is to be executed this year. Mr. Farley gave Ambassador Boheman a copy of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, and called to his attention Section 123, which describes the procedure for approval of an agreement by the U.S.

Ambassador Boheman inquired whether a form of the Agreement was given to the Swedish Government through our Embassy in Stockholm. Mr. Farley said it was sent to our Embassy and he suggested that Ambassador Boheman might send a copy to the Swedish Foreign Office.

Ambassador Boheman inquired whether this limited Agreement could be replaced later on by a broader agreement covering power reactors. He said that the present plans of the Swedish Government were to have atomic power available in 1965–67 since the available resources in Sweden would have been exhausted at the present rate of the rising demand for power; there was already one research reactor in operation in Sweden and another one was in the process of construction.

Ambassador Patterson drew attention to Article IX of the draft Agreement for Cooperation as envisaging further cooperation in the power reactor field. He said that an agreement for cooperation in the power field would be somewhat more complicated because it would involve classified information, but that more information was expected to be declassified this summer; there will be no obligation under the agreement for cooperation in the research field to build a reactor but if the signatory power decided to build one, then the U.S. would be obligated to supply fissionable material; the signatory party may decide to procure the research reactor either in the U.S. or anywhere else where it is available. Some Swedish university, for instance, might desire to start its own program and obtain a research reactor for that purpose.

Ambassador Boheman thought that while the scope of the draft Agreement was limited, it did provide an “entrance door” and could not do any harm. He inquired whether the U.S. program in the research reactor field covered the same area as the UN program.²

Ambassador Patterson said there was no connection at this time between the U.S. agreements and the UN; however, it was possible that when the International Atomic Energy Agency was formed it would take over these bilateral arrangements for training and research, assuming that both parties agreed to such transfer; in any event, these bilateral agreements would in no way prejudice the operations of the IAEA and in fact were intended as a first step toward the realization of President Eisenhower’s program in this field.

Ambassador Boheman expressed his appreciation for the information and said he would send the form to his Government at once.³

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.5897/5–2455. Official Use Only. Drafted by Stein.
2. Reference is to the “Atoms for Peace” plan proposed by President Eisenhower at the United Nations, December 8, 1953.
3. The Swedish and U.S. Governments initialed an agreement for cooperation concerning the civil uses of atomic energy on July 1, 1955. The agreement was signed on January 18, 1956; for text, see TIAS 3477.