SRR ; (—" n me, -l1- as one kilotons He said he could report on the status of this weapon at the next meeting. - At 4:30 pm. Dr. Malcolm Henderson joined the meeting. Dr, Libby asked if it would not be desirable to make designs and cost Separa- estimates for calutron or diffusion separation ‘of plutonium isotopes to PuTse produce Pu useable in a gun or of improved properties for the primary bombs ropes in thermonuclear weapons, It was stated that the Research Division is looking into this. Returning to the question whether budget cuts were likely to impair New weapon work, General Fields said there had been difficulty getting money Divisional ; Labora~ for a new divisional laboratory and administration building at Los Alamos. los * There is an appropriation of $6.5 x 108 for this purpose, but it is held amos , : up by the Bureau of the Budget because of the current stop order. The existing buildings are fire traps, and the new construction is badly needed, It would buy a lot in morale, and its denial would have a long term serious impact. At 4:35 p.m. General Fields, left the meeting. intelligence. Major Cooper, Dr. Fine and Dr. Pittman Dr. Henderson remnined to review developments in All members of the Committee, the Secretary, and Mr. Tamei were present. Dr. Henderson said that there was new information about equipment and activities in Richter's laboratory in Argentina. The laboratory was InteLlifence Matters beautifully equipped, with Speedomaxes, spectroscopes, a cloud chamber, Argen- and counting equipment (none ever reported to have counted), tina There is only Richter's word that successful thermonuclear experiments were carried out. DOE ARCHIVES ~ (oonos S9

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