Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

77. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

November 6, 1959.

SUBJECT

• EURATOM Matters

PARTICIPANTS

• The Secretary
• Mr. Farley, S/AE
• Mr. Fessenden, EUR/RA
• President Hirsch, EURATOM¹
• Mr. Kohnstamm, EURATOM
• Mr. Foch, EURATOM

President Hirsch opened the meeting by saying that the present moment was a time of considerable difficulty in US–EURATOM relations, although certainly not a “crisis”. He felt that things were working out satisfactorily. With regard to the submission of bids for reactor projects, EURATOM had always felt that the deadline imposed was very tight.

The Secretary said that it would be very helpful to us in moving forward with the program if at least two more bids were received in the near future. This should improved the attitude of Congress considerably.

President Hirsch said that he was optimistic about the two additional projects, one German and the other Franco-Belgian. He had just received a message from Chancellor Adenauer conveying the full support of his Government for the German project. The difficulty on the Franco-Belgian project concerns Belgian laws on guaranteed loans for industrial enterprises. These laws cover firms inside Belgium only and, unfortunately, the Franco-Belgian project is just over the border in France. However, it is hoped that this can be worked out shortly. Furthermore, the French Government has indicated its willingness to proceed with a second joint power project on the other side of the border, in Belgium. Furthermore, the process of mixing the projects across national lines has taken a further step forward with indications that Electricite de France will take a share in the German project.

President Hirsch said that he hoped the US–EURATOM program could be developed on a broader basis of cooperation than now exists. Research so far is linked entirely to specific projects. He commented also that cooperation between the US and the Soviet Union in the Peaceful Uses field² could prove to be very important and inquired about our attitude toward it.

The Secretary said that his personal view is that any US-Soviet exchange should be under the aegis of the IAEA. The Secretary also commented that the Soviets appear to be especially interested in the field of harnessing thermo-nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

President Hirsch emphasized the importance of all concerned working together in a cooperative effort. It made little sense to have a number of programs proceeding separately. It is especially important, in the light of any future changes in East-West relations, that the needs of the US–EURATOM cooperation not be forgotten, especially in the context of US-Soviet cooperation in Peaceful Uses. President Hirsch felt that US-Soviet cooperation might turn out to develop fairly rapidly.

The Secretary agreed that, as far as Peaceful Uses are concerned, it is certainly important that everyone work together. Mr. Farley raised the question of broader cooperation with EURATOM than now exists. He agreed that this would appear to be generally desirable, but asked about the timing of such further steps.

President Hirsch said that the present moment was probably not the time to launch something in this field, but it might be desirable to begin with very informal and exploratory discussions as soon as possible. It was suggested that M. Foch might come back to Washington next week to begin such discussions in an informal and exploratory way. President Hirsch emphasized that the kind of cooperation he had in mind would involve actual working together in the research field, not merely the exchange of information.

President Hirsch described EURATOM’s recent arrangements with Canada.³ Both a general agreement and a technical agreement are involved, and the joint program will be conceived especially with the heavy-water and natural uranium reactors which the Canadians are developing. A joint Canadian–EURATOM Commission has been set up, and US representatives in Brussels have been invited informally to participate. It might be desirable later to formalize this “triangular” relationship.

President Hirsch again raised the question of US-Soviet cooperation and asked what form it might take. Mr. Farley said that we envisaged its taking place in three stages: (1) exchange of visits; (2) a regular exchange of information; (3) more formal arrangements for cooperative projects, under the aegis of IAEA. The third state is very indefinite and may well not be reached at all. President Hirsch raised the possibility of eventually developing a program for US–Soviet–EURATOM cooperation.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 840.1901/11–659. Drafted by Fessenden and approved in S on November 13.
1. Hirsch visited the United States to confer with U.S. officials about a resumption of the suspended EURATOM–AEC nuclear energy program.
2. At the September 1–14, 1958, U.N. Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva, the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union announced that they would make available previously classified information on thermonuclear reactions in order to promote the use of atomic energy as a source of power for peaceful commercial use.
3. An agreement for the exchange of information and technology between Canada and EURATOM was signed on October 5.