FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 5 0,1 VOLUME ]i


Kingdom from Brazil of 250 tons of monazite per annum for a period
of two years. The U.K. :members understand that the importation
would be by Thorium Limited and that the monazite would be obtained
from various suppliers in Brazil through the good offices-of Orquima.
   2. This is the first request made for the importation into the U.K.
 of Brazilian monazite. Asthe U.S. members of the C.D.A. are aware,
 the U.K. has not been able to obtain supplies of monazite from India
 for the past two or three years. During that time the U.K. has not,
 therefore, been able to import any monazite. It is believed that during
 the same period the U.S. has imported considerable tonnages from
 Brazil.
   3. The matter is one of considerable urgency as legislation is being
 promoted in Brazil to ban the export of monazite. It is therefore
 desired to conclude the contracts before this legislation takes effect.
 The U.K. members would therefore be grateful if the U.S. members
 could give urgent consideration to this request. They suggest that in
 the interest of speed it is not necessary to hold a formal meeting of the
 C.D.A. to discuss the request-but they would, of course, be ready to do
 so if the American members-wish it.
   4. If the U.S. members are agreeable to the U.K. request, it is sug-
 gested that the U.S. Ambassador in Rio should be requested to inform
 the Brazilian Government that there is no objection on the U.S. side
 to the export of 250 tons of monazite per annum over a two-year
 period to the U.K., so that the necessary arrangements can be made
 by Thorium Limited with the least possible delay.
 MARCH25, 1950.


                            [Annex DI
Memorandum Prepared for the American Members of the Combined
                        Policy Committee

                                     [WASHINGTON,] April 18, 1950.
                   STATUS OF THE BELGIAN TALKS
  Talks which the*Belgians initiated-for the purpose of reviewing
with the. United 'States and the United .Kingdom certain aspects of
the Congo Uranium Agreement of 1944, with special reference to Sec-
tion 9a thereof, commenced on January 30, 1950.
  In the course of the -discussions, it soon became apparent that the
Belgians desired. assistance which neither the United States nor the
United Kingdom, because of security considerations, were prepared to
give, and, furthermore, which the United States under the Atomic


554