558


FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I


                             [Annex F]
Memorandum Prepared for the American Members of the Combined
                         Policy Committee
Subject: Reply to Norwegian Request
   1. In January 1949 Dr. Randers, Head of the Norwegian Institute
 for Atomic Energy Studies, made formal request in a letter to the
 Atomic Energy Commission for assistance in the construction of the
 projected Norwegian heavy water reactor.21 In addition to unclassified
 information, he wished to secure from the United States purified
 uranium and reflector graphite.
   2. In a letter dated April 12, 1949,22 Dr. Randers was informed
by the Atomic Energy Commission as to the necessary arrangements
for obtaining declassified technical information released by the Com-
mission. It was indicated that answers to the other questions raised
would require careful consideration and that the United States views
would be transmitted by the Department of State in due course.
  3. In March 1950 Dr. Randers approached the Embassy at Oslo,
requesting some early definite reaction from the United States with
regard to the original requests for uranium and graphite. He recog-
nized that recent events such as the Fuchs case and the announcement
of the H-Bomb diminished changes that assistance would be available
from  the United States to smaller countries for furthering their
progress in atomic energy.
  4. The Department of State is requesting the American Embassy
at Oslo to inform Randers orally and informally that in the present
circumstances, the United States Government is unable to provide
direct assistance to Norway or Norway and its affiliates in furtherance
of their atomic energy development. A telegram containing instruc-
tions for the guidance of the Embassy has been despatched23 after
review  by the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy
Commission.
  5. The British have been informed of the position the United States
Government will transmit to the Norwegians. It will be recalled that
the United Kingdom, at the insistence of the United States Govern-
ment did not agree to refine uranium ores for the Norwegians in
connection with an approach by the latter in 1948.
  APRIL 18, 1950.

  'Letter from Dr. Gunnar Randers to the United States Atomic Energy
Commission. January 19, 1949, not printed.
  N2 ot print ed.
  Telegram 261 to Oslo, April 18, 1950, not printed.