ATOMIC ENERGY


   In view of this situation, I would suggest that, at least for the time
 being, we regard French resources of fissionable material as a potential
 reserve available to the United States for military purposes in the
 event of an emergency. Meanwhile, we should take all necessary
 measures to keep informed of French prospecting and development
 programs, as well as the results of refining and stockpile operations.
 As you know, the Embassy has reported on this subject from time to
 time and will continue to do so with, I believe, increasing thoroughness.
   The foregoing observations apply particularly to Firench Equatorial
 Africa and other French territories. Morocco, as you suggest, presents
 certain differences owing to the fact that it does not have territorial
 status within the French Union. Moreover, as you probably know, the
 exportation of beryl ore from Morocco to the United States has been
 quietly occurring with the knowledge of certain officials of the Foreign
 Office and the French Atomic Energy Commission. It may, therefore,
 be possible to obtain French acquiescence to the exportation of uranium
 ores by American firms or even by firms owned by other nationals. If
 the approach to General Juin,2 as mentioned in your letter, should
 occur, I would be most interested to learn of the outcome.
   You may be assured that I shall continue to take a close, personal
 interest in French atomic energy affairs, and that this Embassy stands
 ready to assist the Department with every means at its disposal in this
 most important field.
   Sincerely,                                         DAVID BR-UCE

   2 Gen. Alphonse Juin, Governor General of Morocco.


                          Editorial Note

  On July 7, President Truman announced that he was requesting
Congress to provide the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission with fiscal
year 1951 supplemental appropriations of $260 million for additional
plants and facilities. The President's statement declared that until
international control had been achieved, the United States was colr-
pelled to strengthen its own defenses by providing the necessary atomic
energy production capacity. For text, see Public Papers of the Presi-
dents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950 (Washington:
Government Printing Office, 1965), page 519, or Department of State
Bulletin, July 24, 1950, page 129. On September 27, 1950, President
Truman signed the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1951, which
included an additional $260 million for the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission (64 Stat. 1044).
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