ohener wm fissionable material or atomic energy a8 a miAT except as may be authorized by the Commission, Nothing in this subscotion shall be deemed to modify the provisions of Section 4 of this Act or to prohibit rescarch activities in respect of military weapons, or to permit the export of any such equipment or device.” 22. It is evident to the Group that “devolopment" with respect to - "equipment or device utilizing fissionuble or atomic energy as a military @ern" is not included in the list of operations which are unlawful unless authorized by the Commission. Since the act docs not prohibit "research activities in respect of military weapons," the Department of Defenge can, in the opinion of the Group, lawfully enter into both "research and devolopmont" as defined in subsection (ce) of Section 18 of the Act. Furthermore, the term “equipment or dovice utilizing fissionable material or atomic onergy as a military weapon" as construed by subsection (f) of Scction 18 4s interpreted >) by this Group to apply to the nuclear portion, less the capsule, as it is - Cormowtod earlier in this report. oe) way from prosecuting s Apparently the military is inhibited in a research and development of any cquipment or device utilizing fissionable mterial as a military weapon, and certainly is not prohibited in research und development of the many possible varicties of \ C . ) Cc - ) nonenucloars. 23. » Coordination within the Department of Defense + As the Services increase their assistance to tho AZC and initiate projects of their own in the atomic weapon program, 1% will become necessary that the tasks and phasos be fully coordinated. Although individual competence exists in the scparate services for the accomplishment of most developments, there is at present no overeall Departmont of Defense agency with authority to accept, allocate and coordinate tasks now being porformed by the AEC. There is little doubt that the lack of a definitive, authoritative and quick-moving organization in the military has retarded military participation, has resulted in military offort ‘being subordinated to a civilian contractor, and has been a fastor in the military's dofaulting to the ABC in stipulating the configuration of weapons. R er: aOi ENEREY ACT OF 1948 id -li- corinne >t SANDiA ae