Shortly after the United States Atomic Energy Commission had announced their plans for exporting isotopes, Mr. Howe and Dr. Mackenzie held a press conference at which, according to the Gazette report of September 5th, 1947, Mr. Howe was quoted as saying that Canada would have no objection to exporting isotopes at prevailing world prices.

At the next meeting of the Advisory Panel, on September 26th, 1947, it was agreed that the Atomic Energy Control Board should establish conditions for the export of isotopes from Canada similar to those laid down by the United States Atomic Energy Commission for export from the United States.

For various reasons connected with production at Chalk River, the Atomic Energy Control Board have had to postpone action on an isotope export programme, but they are now ready to go ahead and the Secretary, Mr. [G.M.] Jarvis, has written to me (letter attached)† asking whether we have any objection to their proposed plans.

The Board's proposals follow very closely the United States practice. There would be no, discrimination against any nation prepared to comply with the conditions laid down, but these conditions include a clause declaring that the recipient country would undertake that institutions where the isotopes will be used may be visited by qualified scientists without regard to nationality. The United States Atomic Energy Commission have found that in administering their regulations, no Soviet or satellite country has been prepared to accept this inspection clause (2 (d) in the memorandum attached to Mr. Jarvis' letter).

Foreign countries making requests for our isotopes would have to appoint a representative in Ottawa (usually a member of their Mission here) to deal directly with Chalk River; External Affairs would not be involved in the administration of the export programme.

I have discussed with Mr. Jarvis the draft Note to the State Department which is attached to his letter, and he has agreed that it would be better, in view of the lapse of time, to omit reference to the procedure for obtaining isotopes for Chalk River from the United States, which is now well established. We agreed that External Affairs should simply send, to all our Missions abroad and to all foreign representatives in Ottawa, notification of the readiness of the Canadian Government to export isotopes and the procedure to be followed by foreign Governments wishing to applying for them. Do you agree-

I think we have sufficient authority, on the basis of the decision of September 26th, 1947, and Mr. Howe's statement to the press a few days earlier, to put the export programme into effect. If you approve, I shall inform Mr. Jarvis that his draft memorandum on export procedure is satisfactory.

Mr. Jarvis will let me have a draft Press Release for Mr. Heeney's and your approval, and I suggest we might use this as the basis of our circular to our Missions abroad and to foreign representatives in Ottawa.²²

Mr. Heeney has seen this memorandum and approves.

J. GEORGE

²²Le 10 mai 1949, le Groupe de conseillers sur I'énergie atomique fut d'accord avec la recommandation du Dr. C.J. Mackenzie à l'effet de différer toute annonce. Enfin de compte le Comité de contrôle de l'énergie atomique publia on communiqué de presse to 9 décembre 1949 après en avoir remis copie au haut-commissaire britannique et A I'ambassadeur américain.
On May 10. 1949, the Advisory Panel on Atomic Energy agreed with the recommendation of Dr. CJ. Mackenzie to defer any announcement. Eventually the Atomic Energy Control Board issued a press release on December 9. 1949, with advance copies given to the British High Commissioner and the American Ambassador.