REPORTED FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENTOF FRENCH GASEOUS DIFFUSION EFFORTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002800020012-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2007
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: June 1, 1963
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Relea~e:2007/O6/\17, c IA-RDP80BO1
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MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SEABORC~
"DOE REVIEW COMPLETED" COMMISSIONER HAWORTH
COMMISSIONER PALFREY
COMMISSIONER RAMEY
COMMISSIONER WILSON
THROUGH GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: REPORTED FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION IN DEVELOP-
MENT OF FRENCH GASEOUS DIFFUSION EFFORTS
At the conclusion of the meeting with Minister Hans Lenz and his delegation
on June 4, 1963, the Minister said that he --wanted to make some remarks in
a very serious vein. He said that the Germans, Euratom and the French
had discussed the possibility of constructing a plant to process irradiated
plutonium fuel elements at the German Karlsruhe Research Center. Under
the proposal, Euratom could contribute one-third of the capital cost of the
plant. He then implied that this proposal quite likely had resulted in re-
ports that Germany might be undertaking a cooperative program with France
in the development of their gaseous diffusion plant at Pierrelatte.
In order that there would be no misunderstanding concerning Germany's
attitudes toward the French efforts, he wished to advise us that the Chan-
cellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and his Cabinet had often re-
peated that it was their desire to abide by the Treaties of 1955, under which
the Federal Republic of Germany would refrain from the development of an
independent military nuclear force. It was his desire to assure the Com-
mission that Germany would not initiate any action to develop the military
applications of atomic energy. It was also his desire to inform us that
Germany would not take any action which would strengthen the French ef-
forts in the development of a weapons capability and, accordingly, Germany
had nothing to do with the Pierrelatte plant.
These remarks were completely voluntary and unrelated to any subject dis-
cussed up to that time. We responded that his remarks were appreciated
and would be conveyed to appropriate officials. We also observed that re-
processing of irradiated fuel elements was a logical part of a program of
civilian nuclear power.
Myron B. Kratzer, Deputy Director
Division. of International Affairs