Department of State Atomic Energy Files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Edmund A. Gullion, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)
Mr. Maclean called at his request. He referred to the Department’s telegram of February 10, 1947, to our Ambassador in Brussels1 (the substance of which had been conveyed to him orally) indicating the answer which the Ambassador should make with regard to request from Prime Minister Spaak for guidance on a statement which he might be forced to make to the Belgian Parliament on arrangements with the United States and the United Kingdom concerning sale of uranium ores. Spaak had also asked that Belgian scientists might be allowed to come to this country to engage in research on atomic energy uses for industrial purposes. The Department’s telegram in reference informed Kirk of the restrictions which the McMahon Act imposed on exchange of information with other nations; if Spaak persisted in his request Kirk would have to inform him that the Atomic Energy Act made it impossible for us to comply.
Mr. Maclean said that London considered it unfortunate that the Americans had to cite the Act in replying to Spaak; the British felt that this might cause the Belgians to question our good faith in making the Belgian accord. The British did not, however, ask us to modify our instruction. I told Mr. Maclean that while I understood London’s concern there was no alternative to citing the Act if necessary. I pointed out that the language of our instructions to Kirk gave him some leeway in making reply to Spaak and that he might soften his negative in any [Page 796] way which seemed appropriate. I also told Mr. Maclean that the question of the applicability of the Act in this matter had been taken up with the Atomic Energy Commission which was quite definite in ruling that it applied.
I took the occasion to point out that this same restriction which prevented us from complying with the Belgian request was also one which appeared to prevent our transmitting to the British certain information requested by them. I did not tell Mr. Maclean that this might be the reason why the British were unhappy about our reply to the Belgians.