• •L ATOMIC ENERGY W ASHI N GTON L COMMISS DC ' 1---- I U NI TED ST AT ES ° ' - · ION 205 • AUG2ct u Honorable J Edgar Hoover Director Federal Bureau of Investigation U S Department of Justice Washington D C 20535 Attention Joseph M Fitzgerald Lia i son Officer Dear Mr Hoover Please refer to my letter of February 20 1969 the Dr 2 1 1 Mordecai Shapiro matter U in connection with As your representatives were informed AEC staff recently interviewed Or Shapiro concerning his relat io nships with certain Israeli national officials A copy of the summary of the i nterview is enclosed for your recor ds A copy of this SU111D11r y has been furnished to the office of the Assistant Attorney General Internal Security Division On the basis of the information developed during this interview particularly Dr Shapiro's statement that throughout his associations with Israeli officials he has never been as ked to furnish classi fie d information has never furnished and would not if asked to furnish U such to unauthorized persons the Commissio es not contemplate further act io n in this matter at this t i me ' I' U 1ir i ce rely REC-42 - - - Jv '--1 Wil liam T tor Division Endo u ' r r L CLIJ t - _ - I V • • -- UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AUG 8 J969 _ __ Mr Richard Helms Central Intelligence Washington D C Director Agency 20505 Dear Mr Helms Enclosed is summary of a recent informal conducted by AEC staff and is furnished information and retention interview for your If you have any questions or would like to discuss the matter further I would be happy to meet with you Cprdially ____ Howard C Brown Assistant General Manager Enclosures Sununary and Appendix A'' REVIEWED -1R RElf SE -E Z _ _ D te -1 J_ t_c hce •t-dL ' • dx r 6 · 9 69 INFORMAL lNl'BR'llE l OF No _M DR ZALMAN MORD CAI SHAPIRO On August 14 1969 Mr Franklin and Mr W1llirun T Riley N Parks Office Division Director o _ l C of the General C ·i c s iot pa _ i_ Counsel intervie Jed of Security 4t Dr Zalman lordecai Shapiro in connection which vas cond icted to deter nice 1ith the Government of Israel and certain investig tionG to assure of key officials recently ith with r s p ct t hi s rel 2tionship Israe l i netio 2l these that bis official inest ions during he occupies ections their continued certain a 11d associations position are eligibility was advised re ·· for a reinvesti ciation questior s info -mal-inte'l-vie· -1 an important conducts that had had been raised the Government of Isr el Dr Shapiro this of h'f s relationship the Commission routinely on him and that FBI investigation nationals It was noted that information b c cclu leted an extent Israeli that to classified ' the niiture It was e v pl ined to Dr Shapiro access with the recent and certain e hoped to resolve Wa informed Dr Sh apb o in the atomic energy progrem 2nd that of cours e a matter of continuing sccur i ty interest Novc lher 1968 Heet im Follo ir g hes introductory ccmraents we raised CU i1sta 1ces of the November of U S tec ical Co ms lot the were of tae individu3J s there 1968 meeting and scientific Israeli who attended He said tn t the at Shapiro's parsonnel Ecibassy the Shapiro meeting the as to the question residence nd Avre amHcrraoni stated but he could he eztimatr d a - ange nent s for not with a nurJber Scientific rec all some fc r the meetin g were cir- all of or five se t up by c - from the scientist ment -2 - Univer s i t y o f Corr ell wh os e na me he c ould not r e c all proposed could it no t recall records volunteered was a point the esti mated i t was 1 or 2 hou r s tone general in which 1 o the sow e in di vi duals abilities Israel water S tpply needed is the He s aid i ts money othe rs a ssi stl ' nce Th se rec a ll group could problems t h eir dis c ussion of areas wate r a nd fr om a raili t a ry p oi nt o f v iew of t hese water sourc e s would be an effec t ive Israel's capability to respond b·e able even ar iounts sma ll that to I s r a el o f contamination very ·-r l detection and r emain under devices - Shapiro cont i nu i ng threat not e d t ha t Is r a e lis of s ab oteur was ·vi -tal if I r -1 - - -- '- _ continu e t o ex ist be developed to th · art saboteur att c c t hat tyPe · be He t h at most of Israel's i t was impo rtant methods hut he i nc l ud ·d - Re explaiP ed in reducing he D C and con t ri b ute t he r e···was a general b6 s i mply because lasted tecnnical Th erefore saboteur and - that ways and means the concerned the t 2 ·1·M h et '' th at as be s t as he could He sa i d that to detect about meeting the meeting was 1 Tl 0 £ l mi lita ry a tt ac rap d 1· · U __ _ rofessot e for how long fr om de ep wells instrument 2 residenc co n-tribute conta ination contamination U recall meeting a call 1 t o l s -ca 1 ··· i ' 'cl i ng some ot of ass i stance s t ate d t hat not th a t h e received it i e midway betw e en HashinBton Shapiro technical could that us e of his of convenience indicate of Pittsbur ind ic ate Cor nell the said from a Univ e rsity meeting Shapiro U ·· r e c ords Shapiro a mer 1ber of the physi c s depart- were and it tec h nical att i cl s · Shapi r oM b7C C also noted that detection the interest devices and that was specifically devices to provide material in one of the scientific journals - long-life pm er sources is the one particular that he discussed long-life As a result transr iission conta unation of water he could not re call that been sent to hie Shapiro noted that related to military affairs could probably to a question mation on these noted specifically said that he personally this the of articles which had been provided why these the meeting and that have provided discussed persons on detection Shapiro said articles had than being sent directly at the November 1968 meeting more experienced more detailed from the U S military of He said he gave of published to Hermoni rather of to him by a person works for Hen ioni reprints did not furnish information in military In response he said he did not know why Hermoni had not requested topics and he did act as a source - ere reprints much of the material activities that ways of resolving Re said that these for transmission detection y Westinghouse possible who he believes he could not underst'and in infrared which had been published the name who attended the n to Jeruham Kafkafi he could not recall in which he had some competence Shapiro systems meeting problems to Hermoni for periodicals at this - hapiro in general meeting reports - area power source of this any follow-on present whom who had some experience agreed in infrared discussed one of the individuals specifically 3 of the Israelis infor- - ·-··-- · ··------ · _ According to Shapiro '-4- no other subjects nor were any of the requests national defense point were discussed made at the meeting at the November meeting in his view improper of view Shapiro other said that Israeli there have been no follow-on nationals as a result -- ·a meeting ·fn New York presumably University of Cornell lack of coordination to assist which Shapiro said with the ultimate committee function he said before the November meeting at which time he discussed several to attract scientific of improving Israeli's said that various foreign industry exports to Israel He mentioned whose principal funds in the U S for commitment investment in the vi w of his University of Cornell directions and that as a result very little contact was being he has had over a period governments of years a number of contacts he · mentioned Germany Japan to the coma ercial application customers of Atomic Energy hes been Israel This activity In particular began initially England of atomic energy in an effort in and others One of his he has COll llercialarrange- ments with the ISORAD Company in which NUHECand the Israeli partners Based Industry in the U S Shapiro foremost the apparent Econo nic Committee Coll'_-aercial APplicatiors with respect with the committees which had been established is an effort that He did recall with what was going on the people who were tryin g to help were going in all accoraplished with Hermoni or any is the Committee on Science is to obtain who tlaS familiar meetings of the November meeting the Prime Minister's He said One of these objective another in Israel scientist between Israel from a Govern 'llent are to preserve citrus fruit · products Shapiro noted that the continued crop to Germany was being jeopardized According to Shapiro -5- supply of the Israeli by chemicals ISO AD bas been quite orange used to preserve successful oranges in irradiating the 4' poteto crop but has not to this citrus fruits According ISORAD's irradiation and indigenous Shapiro also noted to furnish to determina genE rator Shapiro process gloves Israel to time been able to apply this to the fields products that NUMECentered hln-SC made up a DC-ACconverter probably said officidls his nuclear recall with these He noted that facility He was uncertain thought that Re note that whether He explained rubber with the Government of that this apparently incursioa detection was nece zary a five-watt devices it to I rael National conunercisl nterests nuclear He sa5 d The last he heard Officials interests and his visits he has met a number of Israeli a number of Israeli particularly when he first needles a contract with Israeli under authorization activities into and shipped as a res- Jlt of his in onnection o syringes could not be used Contacts Shapiro are being made to expend the tTin·IECpower sources co- Jld be used in Israeli the converter - to of Israel a DC-ACconverter whether efforts technique national officials Hermoni when he firs r 12 nyIsraelis power sources and irradiation background or previous had visited with the Israeli ·-· He could not it was in Israel assignment met him was a professor have dual occupations Hermoni had been associated na t ional of the AEC fer the purpose of discussing met Avraham Hermoni but he thought as to Hermoni's t o Israel but he at a University He said he did not know Minittry of Defense --- C He said that which ti e Aldag to a reception he renewed his Hermoni's at the Israeli acquaintance ----- ' • -6- when Col Hillel be was invited -- - --- -- predecessor was transferred Embassy to meet Hermoni at with him #t Ee said that continuing his conunercial contact He was uncertain interests were such that with Hermoni and with Kafkafi when he first met Kafkafi he had frequent and other Israeli and officials and said he knew very Httle of his background Be cs use the FBI had reported a meeting between Shapiro June 20 1969 at the ·Pittsburgh circlr Stances discussed Kafkafi Ju 1e 20 wc s met by Shapiro converss tion with Shapiro Shapiro that said the lc i St time he bed seen Kafkafi ccpies to be unusual on June 20 until this Nay bill that that before meeting nt the Pittsburgh co 11a to Washington D C but that early dozen tim es the Government of Israel by telephone to Israel he said Kafkafi he Shapiro D C When asked he saw Kafaafi he mat Kafkafi on an hoi r in bcfora However he at the s irpo t He then said he was concerned Kafkafi '_s trip airport recently to Washington saw him when he returnecl with tiermoni and Kefkafi of the invoice directly spent He then said that the fact pressed D C by air airport about a half and also to disclose payment of a delinquent Washington ·and then returned went to Israel had discussed left at the Pittsburgh he said probably did not volunteer Pittsburgh under what appears on Shapiro was asked how many times he had seen Kafkefi a - d ha they he Kafkafi airport and Kafkafi in about the owed end that he and s nt Kafl c' fi With respect had sug geste d that had su ggested Kafkafi to the he visit ___ ______ _____ --- - ----- - ----------- ·- -- -7him in Pittsburgh Washington involved they met at the airport D C ehortly the question thereafter and Kafkafi According of his u_npaid bill to Shapiro reply could be adapted regarding meeting gave him an opportunity to Bet a power supply unit to the Israeli incursion · -- difficulties they had been encountering See Appendix ''A Shapiro said he recognizes Israeli foreign however that activities national he clearly officials recognizes country Navy fuel · extent cooperated throughout with other with He s id his associations classified if asked to infor- furnish such work l 'l J EC has Shapiro documents for years He said that job for Livermore of° the weapons work done by Nm-IBCand that the co npany as required contacts not to disc SS cl ssified out the only clas s ified to read classified he a d N'Jl C have made to the atomic operate project and he has had no Nav-j fuel work f r years ago had done a small hardening and not system s type work and to discuss and in Israel and that he had not been in the weapons progra m years device or not t in the potato -irradiation and he would not He pointed He said he had had no occasion that detection he has never been asked to furnish persons had is in producing and whether his oblig tion personnel he has never furnished to unauthorized ' he has ·numerous and frequent both in this with unauthorized with Israeli mation that to this a definitive returned said that it NU -IEC several but th at was the was very specializecl he is proud of the contribution energy pro gram that by Commission re gulations Governme nt officials and he has tried that he has to ----- -- - - - ' _ -8Shapiro expressed a contract ' losses the in the safeguards the view that Be ressed ' ' - - - · · to bis company as a result that in 1965 bad been blackballed of materials denied the concern of material and that area that the purpose it of this of process losses recently NUMECbad been bad expected to receive meeting was in fact related at NUMECin 1965 He felt press which resulted in ''asinine the New York Times pertaining the whereabouts reputation losses company of material conducted pointed out that and that this We advised we bad not brought Dr Shapiro the Commission noting his classified not investigation interview in the Wall Street He felt We explained had been leaked of material that these to Dr Shapiro and that this up the issue was not in fact Journal and and speculation articles were concerned to the that on injured insofar the as the the Con mission had matter was closed of the losses caused by the previous We of material material at NIDIEC losses all articles at the NUMECplant a complete information to the losses of the material of his that contacts specifically with Israeli inform2tion if asked to that we would report that officials the results be Dr Shapiro bad stated that to in he had never been asked to furnish had nev e r furnish ed clas s ified furni sh classified of our discussion information information to un2utb rizerl and would persons --- ·- - - · -- -- - ··-· --- ----- - - ·- --- · --- - - • • • lntervic ers' Dr Shapiro appeared vhen pressed Pittsburgh that of the meeting Dr Shapiro tlovcober in this could not recall 3 1968 meeting respect meeting was consistent with other mation than candid to unauthorized associations with lsr P li and wit'n his full in describing candid classified that and Similarly present at the feel covered P is statement information if asked to was made openly th c t he has never furnish of at the meeting clnssified context £ irnishcd infor- of his end with forc ef ulness he would be uotcd on this point Cor imission - - ' ' ' I 1'--'Franklin N Perks Office of the General Counsel that the circumstances was made in t ·he specific officials understanding and his explanation payment of a bill of the subjects and ould not personnel place we were aware and the interviewers of the meeting to furnish information that to be completely his residence reports on June 20 at the or names of individuals However his discussion has never been requested claEGifierl details at he was less hed taken had been to discuss did not appear except interview with the fact did he admit such a meeting coir mercial matters the entire of his meeting with Kafkafi Only when confronted airport the purpose other this to be calm throughout for the details of the meeting Impressions I William T Riley Division of Securit ctor · to the • • ' APPENDIX A Summary of Conversation Between William T Riley Franklin N Parks and Dr Zalman Mordecai Shapiro on August 26 1969 On August 26 1969 Dr Zalman Mordecai Shapiro reference to the information on August 14 1969 concerning interview at the Pittsburgh Dr Shapiro airport was informed meeting we understood cussion he bad provided him en o portunity supply unit encountered irradiation as to -arrant provided us earlier casual discussion neighbors us earlier of the August 14 1969 involved Government on the suitability difficulties that none of these to Pittsburgh said that while polit ic al situation bad been items appeared by Kafkafi there be bad had been some for example as well as some discu s sion of the policies He said that the items the unpaid bill some time and -as in the neighborhood that there and the of Israel's he had discussed bad been delinquent of $32 000 to be of and as to who would be the next Prime Minister the meeting bad concerned gave of a power be wished to suppiement ·the information of the Israeli dis- p oject a trip Dr Shapiro was some speculation economic situation reply to discuss We to1d Dr Shapiro t hat on review as to whether our notes the June 20th meeting to get a definitive inquired of the of his meeting owed to bis firm by the Israeli and a opportunity such significance the course the circumstances in reviewing him to say that in the potato during in specific on June 20 1969 with Jeruham Kafkafi that of nn unpaid biil was contacted with for quite end th e t he personally Thi r u _ d Jc - 1 z ns in ct n t- ' c - r he n it •n i- · • cl th Un ite t · • r j fl •·a·1 •f i · _ • ••n ig l n- 't _ G S ' s ·c J 1· J t c tr i 3 ' i i lt ' C ··J P ak• ri oi · · rt · 1 1 11 • r to an t r lui l11t i J v l· u n r i p1· lt it ·tl hy lu• i · •· ---- ---• - ----------------- c· - 2 - attached great significance to the payment of the bill ICafkafi and Ber1110oiwere aware of his concern of the visit thereafter to Pittsburgh by Kafk afi and that both as a result He said that the account was settled shortly • t -Dr Shapiro everything Kafkafi also said that he could with respect wanted to discuss Dr Shapiro concerned Kafkafi some problems with respect the irradiator In addition to the irradiator and also because be was return Beyond the above Dr Shapiro respect to payment of the bill said he want'ed to discuss about its he bad done wanted to assure him that stated that to the m eting at the Pittsburgh Franklin N Perks · Offic e of the General Counsel he had nothing further to ado in airport r 'L - - William T Riley n · rector Division of Secur' 1 Appen1ix An