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[edit] Summary

Memorandum from Drs. Conant, Compton, and Urey

October 30, 1943

To: Brigadier General L. R. Groves, War Department, United States Engineer Office, Manhattan District, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Declassified June 5, 1974

page 1 of 3. page 2, page 3

[edit] Text

1. Inclosed [sic] is a summary of the report written by Drs. James B. Conant, Chairman, A. H. Compton, and H. C. Urey, comprising a Subcommittee of the S-1 Executive Committee on the "Use of Radioactive Materials as a Military Weapon." It is recommended that a decision be obtained from competent authority authorizing additional work pertaining to the use of radioactive materials in order that this country may be ready to use such materials or be ready to defend itself against the use of such materials. The following program is recommended:

a. Immediate formation of a research and study group at the University of Chicago under supervision of the present Area Engineer. Assignment to this group of competent individuals now working on dust and liquid disseminating munitions and field testing of chemical warfare agents from the National Defense Research Council.

b. Assignment of a competent Chemical Warfare Service officer to the Chicago Area Engineer, who would become familiar with, and work on the problem under study by the University of Chicago. This officer should be experienced in the practical use of gas warfare.

c. The responsibility of the above organization would be:

(1) Develop radiation indicating instruments, expand present facilities of the Victoreen Company, and prepare a trial order for instruments with this company.

(2) Make theoretical studies pertaining to the methods, means and equipment for disseminating radioactive material as a weapon of warfare.

(3) Conduct field tests in isolated locations, such as Clinton Engineer Works or Sanford Engineer Works, using a non-radioactive tracer material.

(4) Prepare an instruction manual for the use of, or the defense against, radioactive weapons. This manual would be similar to that now used by the Chemical Warfare Service for gas warfare.

[edit] Licensing

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of 17 U.S.C. § 105. See Copyright.

Note: This only applies to works of the Federal Government and not to the work of any individual US state, territory, commonwealth, county, subdivision, or municipality.

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(del) (cur) 01:14, 19 January 2006 . . Nrcprm2026 (Talk | contribs) . . 652×846 (33,836 bytes) (Memorandum from Drs. Conant, Compton, and Urey October 30, 1943 To: Brigadier General L. R. Groves, War Department, United States Engineer Office, Manhattan District, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Declassified June 5, 1974 page 1 of 3)
(del) (rev) 01:13, 19 January 2006 . . Nrcprm2026 (Talk | contribs) . . 652×846 (33,836 bytes) (Memorandum from Drs. Conant, Compton, and Urey October 30, 1943 To: Brigadier General L. R. Groves, War Department, United States Engineer Office, Manhattan District, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Declassified June 5, 1974 page 1 of 3)