ATOMIC ENERGY


  5. In the middle of November, we proposed to Mr. Van Zeeland
that the Joint Communiqu6, on the contents of which there is full
agreement, be released on December 1, even though agreement had
not been reached on Points (a) and (b) under 2 above. Our thinking
was that since an understanding on these points might take some
time to achieve, Mr. Van Zeeland would at least be able to respond
to parliamentary pressure for information re the Congo uranium
situation, and, secondly, that the CPC research reactor declassifica-
tion announcement of November 242 provided a logical development
with which to identify the release of the Communique.
  6. Mr. Van Zeeland turned down this proposal rather brusquely.
He did, however, send Professor M. deHemptinne to Washington and
Professor Ledrus to London as liaison officers.
  7. More recently we have been informed that Mr. Pierre Ryckmans
is being appointed head of a proposed Belgian Atomic Energy
Commission.
  8. Mr. Van Zeeland also recently expressed shock to Ambassador
Murphy that an increase in price had been granted to Union Miniere
without prior coordination with the Belgian Government. In reply
to this surprising remark, Ambassador Murphy stated that he was
unable to understand the Foreign Minister's cause for surprise, since
the world price of all metals has increased and Union Minie're is
faced with financing increased production, which is expensive. (As
indicated under 4 above, the real reason for the price increase was
based on this latter factor.) The Ambassador pointed out that the
CDA was thus in a position to justify a price increase for uranium,
whereas an increase of the uranium export tax without supporting
figures justifying such an increase, was another matter.
  9. Mr. Van Zeeland replied that he feared unfavorable political
repercussions if an increase for Union Miniere and not for the Govern-
ment became known. However, he would attempt to hold the line until
Mr. Ryckmans was installed as head of a Belgian Atomic Energy
Commission and could develop a program which would provide a
breakdown of supporting figures of atomic energy expenses.
   10. The Belgian liaison officer, Professor deHemptinne, has stated
that, pending the official appointment of Mr. Ryckmans, he had no
official views to express On the export tax or the Congo ,plant. He. has,

  2On November 24, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission released a statement
indicating that the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom,
and
Canada had adopted a revised declassification guide which permitted the -publi-
cation of certain information necessary to the design, construction, and
operation
of specified low-power nuclear reactors used for research purposes. For text
of
the press release, see Department of State Bulletin, December 25, 1950, p.
1020.


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