- This document eonsi sts of t vo pages No of Copies Series DEPARTMENT OF STATE A E MemoranJum ol Conversation c G A ' ' iQfi R i 963 SUBJECT Israel's Atomic Energy Activities JSJ Ia GBPOU958 Mitt f l _N ## rooljij 1JK HZMIO PAiniCIPANTS Mr Patrick R R Wright First Secretary British Embassy NEA NE - William R cra'Wf'ord Jr Officer in Charge Lebanon-Israel Ai'fo irs u ll 1963 COPIES TO r Jv Mr Wright said that in a recent conversation between the senior officers- of the British and French Embassies in Tel AViv the French officer had volunteered the following regarding the Israel-French relationship i atomic energy safeguards and inspection provisions or the original Israeli-French agreement concluded some six 1 years ago were stiffened at French request eighteen months ago e French Embassy in Tel Aviv has been cut out of any responsibility in this question and the relationship is hanclled through other channels However the Embassy is aw re that the Israelis have been miffed at the French for beine so suspicious Estimates that there have been as many as 200 French families in Dimona are ridiculously high There are only 60 Frenchmen there and this number includes many Who are simple construction workers The French Dnbassy is convinced that the Israelis are not in any posi tion to manufacture atomic weapons at this time They are exploiting doubt regarding intentions as a factor in the political game oo -1r Wright asked that the forego -ng be closely held and that the source of the information if used in any way not be identified iT'it H Mr cra'Wi'ord r ga Lieci' fh t l n rAJ iitist 14 Acting Assistant secretary Gr t had informed t- r Killick in confidence of our effort to learn more from the French about their arrangements with Israel Some comment has been recei ved from the French Foreign Min - s tey o This is not very revealing and -we are going back to them again o o - a o J L o BBeM In regard _J LIMIT DISTRIBUTION CROUP 3 Downgraded at l2 year intervals Not automatically declassifi ed 0 0 tOittz ecla sified 6905 NWM 36905 Docid 596828 a te Aut hority By Laurie Madsen 09-16 - 2016 B CIWr LIMl'l' DISTRIBt1riOl -2- In rega d to a further point mentioned by Grant our interest in regularizing United States visits to Dimona ou discussion odth the Israelis hos reached a reasonably satisfactory conclusion We hape shortly to be in a position to tell the UK vhat has been agreed 8Bil' R LDID DISTRIBl l'ION NWI 36905 Docid 596828 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu