ATTACHED MEMORANDUM RE NSC 5431

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005288666
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2008
• Case Number: F-2008-01474
• Publication Date: August 10, 1954

(b)(3)
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Roy Snapp, ASC
Mr. Gerard . Smith,
14. Col. William Kintner,
SUBJECT
ttached emoraandt*
on of the attached CI ,/State memorandum deal-
1. The Director of Central Intelligence has authorized
with aspects of the program proposed NSC 5431, for
the use of your principals at the meeting on this subject
tomorrow, and for the Council meeting on Thursday.
Z. The Director has seen the memorandum but has
not approved its contents in detail. As stated therein, it has
been approved by the Board of National 9ti;rxaa tes and by the
Office of Intelligence Research of the Department of State.
AUL A.
Acting Assistant irectoa
National Estimates
APPROVED FOR RELEASE DATE:
11-Dec-2008
'
 9 August 19.54
INTELLIGENCE,
hological Effects of a US Program
n with Other Nations in the Peaceful
a
That the program would be as out-114 n In U
Tort
"C tton with other Nations in the Peaceful
U e Of Aod o Rhergryll 3
must 19 ,04.
0 The initial 'rewponse of % e Free World countries
o pt ed p er, a would abwst ' iniy generally favor.
though t1 he would axouse fears ar provoke criticism
program will not
with an is con ed
a P ee rch of the Department
 a m although this
a;:'`;.~re nt that the m anen a'Wm of the '
Ora el, w re
U`es ' no k Such conflicts would P ob$ " '
regional researed
The B-l
4 COUAMOs, 00909 West N, 5
:aaea if the U S pro a established
and made than a a flab:Le to all q ell
a"o a --ably re l
P MI-31 CUSS I IOM
a
which h US is likely
11 be in the fora of good will,
political and M .ogic ,l a a tam
wi tend to All off over the
,p< w a ,pate in the program aund
d maintain, .o
1' kt( rt a3 v program would
. i and would probably bring
d be mitigated to the
VON
largely by
bly not g
 e? t biM s to the -., m xy ions, Partieuieriy
We p ,r1
are unre a d4 noe ientffioally, would regard-
secrecy and exults
a
atomic energy field qrl as
practice 3='l. l ent tion of the President's speech of
195L The underdeveloped nation iiou ld probably re.
i ,portunity to participate LU the pro gU . enhancinfo
.,hnir prestige,,
bly
lead ear` eht
x countries or the needs of underdavm]qp3d
cou1 a e y ?d g it should provide for 5, t fla ion of poe.
than r e arch reactors, (countries which alreaddy
r."s o % h reamers s " " ? argue that he are re i
e for a source of
e l3'pmont programs, and many baack-
3 3 . 'v't-,ice fearthat any m cia pion with the VIIS
US d e not propase ? finance the er.-Kre
sappointmank
:fir".ti? ;"s'n of atomic E rgy will increase the c ne ci that ti
ion of US polities of
 =_a,. U P f;mf.bWst s no but are not likely to b
eae t d in euth
the
program Cot
a 's t
lAti g t come of the above ~? EYE and fear :. '
NOW pnblic r l were given to the u: e of "x. ossarob reactors and
at at the proposed programt wof-Id w t, a vane the mmilitary
T pion of a$ ie energy except in an indirect and theoretical
Wormed foreign 1pin
a recognize ` t
nrk
i
ene:r
e
on the peacetime
uce of
0
?n
still
aatmfi
the e
x~
pyA'-
9 ,d
p
q+cy
p @
A
p
dg
g
g
.~ mental atagec and that the J ro ran. would gI e :~Yrt iP~`~.ipatin ooto `%r
a s o2 sir u mty to 'sin personnel who would able to utilize the
:' ,ss>'. e if 1,110
aacia l un edowel pe
p in a program to
Such an.
talon WOUIQ ?~. rrwith it the s tat ton that
the inl9iarna P i.o.M l agency to be ec abl iaha would ass
in solving the economic and financial aspects of pro ina involving
come d ger tha :, over the
program mould bec(angl
ua ..o ed an pen ion t. taught them AA coat k' ant ?" r ,ng an,
A. The general
uaderd log; d are may b o more #avo.r able to the Unite
 that '4'aq '3r?a. would ei
lotion due the lack of ? ibis
spectacular benefits prodnoe
by avoiding the build
a n:a the 11 by
the longer ter ,k e
extent that the M
:, ~i ac: C-a: ''n#' eyed In present teAni &l .d pro d ., There
i o eh y expect
he fact that proper
`,ha :"enn. na a".. b at3f t of mankind. .`hove ex ect
character of the pro m
ml oov r , th oce vutr e which supply the
n x;.,obaly regard the Oft t
pp r ionl
8 a West gal
o ,i tri which do not supply the US i
tri. do e; i. :s .r pi l e
i, :c cne e
4 th to lc.1 dva to e
qvgram wog teed to fall off ow
ugh this oeline aul be mitigated to the
A Most a ;ic ting L ea
conntric will not
 from the US to exile, that ?,e td benefit
spreading out
let z tip`;` io tal I c
anticipate
dv at I
US I
World react
t?i.
would encourage 14 hose oo tri s mv,ot ecei' tn'
the US G "d 'be le
a m tine a US proposal Ar
r
ational agency would ease the upy A r
Son Ae an cou tr s might pr gar
Quo ta; ,, but wl ai
World Oo " ) y w u on `r _se a ~ 4(,o nt
from the US,,
0a .{,hose Count, ie Whi0h
s ,II.9 : Belgi . e.? , ate :
4's4 + U S
US
for eir ~
 Y oe are vorking on power reactors, Most of then wauld
obtaining ppli of
p i d i develop n & o c research pro-
upon ' a tivi i z in , the atamie Onerg
Y
1V A a d group of Fee World
aced atomic r e s e a r c h grog ate, includen:
A < t iaq '_ h Union of South Afr ca$ and Jam,
. Ative Interest
0, but have rn40
the UK, A
NO and day
fairly e,+ +,%k
r omn; some ,lr oact have re a -Z
iw? ng
in benefiting US technological
wagaging research 3ripb
QgvBAvia
e mi P Free WRO
degree of S
scon-d u s Thy ? c1 .B.c
lack the necessary GAP&--
 12 2 ~. 4 However careful3,v the proposed
is h . ne ed., there is likely to be dissatisfaction and dis-
content in some countries t4hich do not i i. teiy participate,,
use t o feel that the US has underestimated their
scientific capabilities, or because they feel that there are ape,
vial c artancee which justify their inclusion in the program
at an early stage. In some areas,, intraregional antagonisms may
sharpened if certain countries are declared eligible to the ex-
elusion of others. This factor wi3-I be, particularly important if
it p vee difficult to d trate the complete dissociation of a
program for the use of atomic research reactors from any i e
in military potential.. The eatablishment of an international
organization under UN auspices for the aftinistration of research
done under the p ed program would tend to allay, the fears and
spicions that mey be created by the construction of an atomic
reactor, in one country in regions where there is great
sensitivity to any u ,, real or surmised,, in the balance Of
po r Q Such regio bl e .i t also be overcome if region
re not up to utilize the research reactors con-
the proposed progx-am.
13. if Argentina and
the o countries declared
rica for participation in a
eligible i na Latin .fie
rams air neighbors! fears would probably be aroused,
 he r`,+a. h pq
a '.ly one of
o 4k' .u' f 4~.C.:4. vtl F.syeC4til.,~'aAV.d'e.. coul W p o bG"Tbl IS
provided f r qua-51-fled . sa ien U dd1 the
aoa:6# stowor tharesag a
d %
".. 1 o"Ve s en i., ?45 capability to part&
' H s' ''a or the or tion
a. Con acti of a research reactor in israoig
in the Arab stateB
not a MOW to et up a ;ego 1 research center i . ra 1.
rob center in T? r e y' u id ..o-
A 1141y ld1y f4'> s ra e response x?` the Arab states and would li
form of pa'
1 q Soot. Asia, 10010
d -a gig; g
"" a,, The li
to as Moat com
the U3 in c?ankgo for the opp Edz Guni4 Y id
t ..m t
save .? i ly
 , n 'aich has established
t. e .: n, weaz K h cC ? (pena;z for a the Color powers)
eet inh d, even if this were located in India.
16.
Keawith the U n i l react adversely if India o n 'e-
the high cost of pover in i
4 Tagional canto
An would be lave adverse
Mth Korea
sgi. , ge in the excluded oun rie ~ Creation of
atxt m-J c nee ; y development in that a u ry and
th oAz So
on could prob-
be created E:h e
,. , of other countries if the ' said to s0.npp .
S/t 3%
to mitigate his ration.
izhe b been only linited
an ,", `MKO energy pen in Woot
a tioutl S Y ..R eat1D ore far the per o 'e Of
in Japan on the.
pacific have produced a wary public attitude toward atomic
ke nvor n it the Proposed
at it too willing to MY . O pp .
AMC!= to underdeveloped countries. At
the Satellite state or Communist in%
19. ".:he
-cy c a li hment as e, is fyi Correct
qf po : v Bn US ro r ; .e, b eow uld ease
- . US, x seeking to divert public attention
le of barning he use le w
i ; fi ce
,:as; 1t ., prohibit nt.
e d to they pa
it -ould he c tr' ed