4s T ocAre x 15 CE cE C Bj 01 HC Aw e - cAA 1 cc- ur n enfS ED yq ZA- NS C l 5' riED $1 2C I 2_1 kL9Y_ t ° 45 sT FICL Ccc J i Pwiru R OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 1530 P STREET NW WASHINGTON D C March 9 1942 On October 9 1941 Mr Wallace and I pre- sented to you the status of research in this country and Great Britain on a possible powerful explo- sive In accordance with your instructions I have since expedited this work in every way possible I now attach a brief summary report of the status of the matter Considerations of general policy and of inter national relations have been limited for the present to a group consisting of Mr Wallace Secretary Stimson General Marshall Dr Conant and myself Mr Wallace called a conference of this group to which he invited also Mr Harold D Smith as the matter of funds was there considered The technical aspects are in the hands of a group of notable physicists chemists and engineers as noted in the report The corresponding British organization is also indicated The work is under way at full speed Recent developments indicate briefly that the subject is more important than I believed when I last spoke to you about it The stuff will apparently be more powerful than we then thought the amount necessary appears to be less the possibilities of actual production appear more certain The way to full accomplishment is still exceedingly difficult and the time schedule changed We may be engaged on this remains unin a race toward reali- zation but if so I have no indication of the status of the enemy program and have taken no definite steps toward finding out Zi T OGLA MQ VAS --B A 1ltEv icah bcc v en 4S C S- rIEO B -DcE 0iHG_ CE 1'S' IE7 853G39yA- NS gf 2C l 27t¢Lu -2- The subject is rapidly approaching the pilot I believe that by next summer the most promising methods can be selected and production plants started At that time I believe the plant stage whole matter should be turned over to the 'Aar Department You returned to me the previous in order that I might hold them subject toreports your call I shall be glad to guard this report also if you wish Respeotfully yours V Bush Director ti V It 4s in r 0C_ tA rA f v A ver car boC-twten DECLASS'FIED OF DECLASSIFIED 8803 q2A- HS a u° iJM' EtT r MEMORANDUM FOR DR VANNEVAR BUSH I am greatly interested in your report of March ninth and I am returning it herewith for your confidential file I think the whole thing should be N3xUL not only in with regard to due regard of the essence - 81zcr$ development but also to time This is very much Ihave no objection to tur ing over future progress to the War Department on condition that you yourself are certain that the liar Department has made all adequate provision for absolute secrecy HA19 rut -