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528 FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I

country in so far as security is concerned”. Mr. Bevin suggested that
he and Mr. Acheson should try to play down as much as possible such
ill effects of the case.

Sir Derick said that he thought the thing had somewhat died down
and did not believe that anyone was too concerned at the moment
over the press treatment although he mentioned that the first day or
so after the case broke, there had been a few unfortunate articles.

I told him I would pass the message on to the Secretary.

L{vcrus] D. B[arriz}

 

Department of State Atomic Energy Files

Lhe Belgian Foreign Minister (Van Zeeland) to the Secretary
| a | | of State

TOP SECRET PERSONAL _ [Brusszxs,] February 17, 1950.
_ My Dear Secrerary: As you know, negotiations have been taking
place in Washington since the end of January between the repre-
sentatives of the Government of Belgium and the Government of the
United States on certain questions related to atomic energy.? I cannot
conceal from you the fact that the Belgian Government has been
very disappointed by the results achieved to date, in the course of
these negotiations. Therefore, I believe it necessary to apprise you
directly of the problem and to ask you to be kind enough to take it
under consideration, as a matter of the greatest importance, bearing
in mind certain of its political aspects to which the negotiators per-
haps have not given sufficient attention, which is normal in view of
the necessarily technical character of the matters with which they
are concerned. | | a

I should like to emphasize that in an undertaking of such prime
importance as that of the production of atomic energy, Belgium, the |
possessor and principal supplier of the raw material, has always con-

 

* The source text is a translation of Van Zeeland’s personal message to Acheson
transmitted in telegram 251 from Brussels, February 17.

* Representatives of the United States, Belgium, and the United Kingdom met
on four occasions between January 30 and February 9. The principal negotiators
for the United States were George Perkins, Assistant Secretary of State for
European Affairs; R. Gordon Arneson, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary
of State; Carroll Wilson, General Manager of the U.S. Atomic Energy Com-
mission; and Robert LeBaron, Deputy to the Secretary of Defense. Sumner
Pike and Henry D. Smyth, Members of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, each
attended certain sessions. The Belgian participants included Ambassador
Silvercruys; Ambassador Fernand van Langenhove, Permanent Belgian Repre-
sentative at the United Nations; Mr. H. Robiliart of the Union Miniére du Haut
Katanga; and Professors R. Ledrus and M. de Hemptinne. Sir Derick Hoyer
Millar, Minister, British Embassy, headed the United Kingdom representation.
The records of the meetings are not printed. (Department of State Atomic
Energy Files) | :

					
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