- I 11·i i • it CE Stcurit7 Clas1ifict1tion PR IO RITY - JI-- -_ FOREIGN SERVICE DESPATCH FROM TO - · - ri E•nO U'j ·3Y 11 Te 1 Av 1 V COPY_ N o E s -- -- - o -a r-- i1 t THE DEPAnTMENT OF S ATE WASIIINGTON Pa r 1 s Embte 1 2162 • to Iiept · D VII B 1 REF --J - - '· I otr · l9vO rr '✓lbLJ '--r •rn nn T¥ 'ri-hl - -P-#d 1• p Ii ti 3 L l _ _ L l _ C _ J _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ susJECT Research and Training Pr-ogram in Field o r Atomic Energy There is tru nsmitted herewith a memorandum ot conversation b tween Dr Henry J Gomberg Director Phoenix Project 1 lJn1vers1ty of Michig n and Embassy officers 1 iJ' 7 FOR THE AMBASSADOR First Secretary or Embassy • 0 0 '- rriamo1• n d um of Conversation I 0 0 IFIC TION L I J i'Sh tw mr I lttPOltTD I ACl'ION COPY DEPAJlTMENT q T1M1uUcmom m1Utntamt111apem MD1nadOD11PtoDCIBm wD DECLASSIFIED Authori' 1 Page J ol Encl No ___ 1_ _ - 1 Dap No 311 ffl ' Tel Ay1y MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION 7 SUBJECT Research and Training Program in F1e d of Atomic Energy PARTICIPANTS PLACE Dr Henry J Gomberg Direotor Phoenix Project - · University of Michigan Ambassador o R Reid Mr John F Shaw American Embassy Tel Aviv Dr Henry J Gomberg called at the Embassy to explain that he had come to Israel as an ICA USOM advt-sor to assist Technion in developing a tra1n1ng program which would keep Israel scientists informed and abreast of developments 1n the peaceful uses of atomic energy He stated his consultations have led him to believe that Israel 1s engaged 1n a very broad range or activities in this field and 1s pursuing projects which they were not prepared to discuss with him His suspicions he said were based upon utilization or some 30 graduates from a fam111ar1zation program which operated at Technion sometime ago and Israel•s strong interest in plutonium this interest he said is measured 1n gram amounts which he considered to be significant since amounts of this size could conceivably find use 1n weapons In response to the Ambaesador•s query he thought it was conceivable that Israel could have weapon capability in this field in less than 10 years · Dr Gomberg seemed to be of the opinion that the French were working with Israel on the construction of a nuclear power plant here but he had not been given any information on the plant Following the meeting with the Ambassador Dr Gomberg called upon Dr Ernst D Bergmann Chairman Israel 1 s Atomic Energy Commission Followine this meeting which he characterized as very friendly he reported to an Embassy officer that Dr Bergmann had stated that Ben Qurion would be making an announcement pertaining to Israel•s atomic energy program within about three weeks • t i L DECLASSIFIED Authorit y g__y SIEJRB'l _J I