Memorandum from J. E. Doyle to Secretary of State James Byrnes

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR TOP SECRET WASHINGTON November 5, 1945 DEGLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 DINLTILL NARS Date 6-23-75 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY FROM: J. E. Doyle grow SUBJECT: Attached Memorandum for the President on Agreement between U. S. and British on Atomic Bomb Secrets I think the attached memorandum is as concise as can be. For your convenience I want to summarize the evidence of what President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill had done and said prior to the Quebec Agreement. In December, 1942, President Roosevelt approved a recommendation by Bush and Conant calling for the kind of restricted exchange finally incorporated in the Quebec Agreement. On July 20, 1943, presumably in response to pressure from Churchill, Roosevelt wrote the following letter to Bush: "While the Prime Minister was here we discussed the whole question of exchange of information regarding tube alloys, including the building project. "While I am mindful of the vital necessity for security 'INATIONAL in regard to this, I feel that our understanding with the ARCHIVES AND RECORDS British encompasses the complete exchange of all information. is SERVICE "I wish, therefore, that you would renew, in an inclusive manner, the full exchange of information with the British Government regarding tube alloys. " On that date Bush was in London. Three days later, without knowing of Roosevelt's order, he and others conferred with Churchill and others, and Bush stuck tight to restricted exchange. On July 26, Roosevelt cabled Churchill: