Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Western European Security and Integration, Volume IV

235. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Germany¹

Washington, May 21, 1957—7:02 p.m.

3295. “The Government of the United States has been particularly pleased by the progress that has been made by the Six Nations both with respect to the Common Market and EURATOM, as evidenced by the signature of the Treaties in Rome on March 25, 1957. The account of the United States Atomic Energy Commission technical team, which has just returned from Luxembourg, on the report of the EURATOM Wise Men is equally encouraging. The Government of the United States hopes to continue to cooperate with the Six Nations individually in the atomic energy field in the immediate future, while anticipating even more extensive cooperation with EURATOM when the Community comes into being.

On February 1, 1957 the French and Italian Ambassadors and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Federal Republic of Germany advised the Department of State of the discussion of their Governments with the other Governments participating in the Brussels Conference and informed the Department of State of the consensus reached that the three nations should proceed to negotiate interim bilateral power reactor agreements with the Government of the United States, to cover the period prior to the establishment of EURATOM. The representatives indicated that nothing in the negotiations would prejudice EURATOM and that the bilateral agreements that resulted would be designed to come within the ambit of EURATOM when the Community came into being. The United States Government understands that a primary purpose of these agreements is to meet fuel requirements for reactors which would otherwise be delayed unless bilateral agreements were negotiated to cover the interim period.

Preliminary negotiations have been conducted by representatives of this Government with representatives of France, Germany, and Italy. The United States believes it to be consistent with the February 1, 1957 approach to continue joint consideration of the prospective bilateral agreements. The Government of the United States, therefore, is making available at this time essentially identical draft bilateral power agreements for further consideration by and negotiation with the three Governments.

In addition to welcoming any questions regarding the substantive provisions of these draft agreements, the United States would appreciate clarification of the intentions of the three Governments concerning these interim agreements. It is the understanding of the United States, on the basis of the meeting of February 1, 1957, that these agreements were intended to provide the fuel assurance for defined reactor projects which would otherwise be delayed during the transitional period pending the establishment of the Community, and the negotiation of an arrangement between EURATOM and the United States. However, in addition to covering such defined projects, the fuel requests which have been received thus far from the three Governments appear to relate to some reactor projects that would be initiated after the time when it is expected that EURATOM would be in operation. For example, the tentative requests put forward would require an allocation by the United States on the basis of our preliminary analysis, of from 8,000 to 10,000 kilograms of U–235, and are based on the assumption that the bilateral agreements would run for a decade.

In conclusion, the Government of the United States wishes to express again its deep interest in furthering reactor projects during the interim period and particularly by providing through bilateral agreements assurances regarding the availability of necessary fissionable material. In further negotiations regarding the draft agreements made available today, the Government of the United States would welcome advice regarding interpretation of the proposal made by the three Governments on February 1, 1957 in order to facilitate the early conclusion of agreements for cooperation for the mutual benefit of the three nations and the United States. The United States Government is particularly anxious that these agreements be brought into force before the adjournment of the current session of the United States Congress.”²

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.4097/5–2157. Confidential. Drafted by Schaetzel; approved by Murphy. Also sent to Paris, Rome, Brussels, Luxembourg, and The Hague. Luxembourg was instructed to pass it to Butterworth for information, and Paris was instructed to pass it to USRO for information.
2. On May 21, Deputy Under Secretary Murphy met with the German and Italian Ambassadors and the French Minister and gave them copies of a draft bilateral nuclear power agreement. He also handed them aides-mémoire identical to the text of telegram 3295. Murphy’s presentation was summarized in telegram 3294 to Bonn, May 21, which was also sent to the Embassies in the other five ECSC countries. (Ibid., 611.4097/5–2157)