1.
AEC 532/34 - Classification
ProRram
@f the Controlled
Thermonuclear
—.
Mr. Mar shall reviewed
the recommendation
set forth in
AIZC 532/34 for a future classification
policy for F reject
SHERWOOD.
He pointed out that under this policy, basic research
related to Project SHERWOOD
would be unclassified
and teclmology important to the development of a controlled thermonuclear
reactor would remain unclassified.
Mr. Murray
inquired whether approval of these recommendations
was necessary
prior
to Mr. Strauss* discussion
with Sir Edwin
Plowden on September
26, 1956. Mr. Strauss indicated that a
decision by the Commission
would be helpful in view of the
tentative nature of the Commission’s
conclusions
on the matter
at previous meeting.
Mr. Libby said that he believed less declas dfication
than
that recommended
wcmld not achieve the re suits which the
Commission
believed important and therefore
he would not
favor taking any action if it were not possible to declassify
the
project to the recommended
extent. He also said he believed
it is possible to declassify
basic information
and to retain
classification
on process technology.
In this connection, he
referrect to the example of the declassification
of the basic
gaseous diffusim theory in the Smyth Report.
Mr, Vance said he had suggested that the Commission
:onsider its positien on the question prior to the meeting
with Sir Edwin Plowdea because of the indications
of a lack
of unanimity in the UKAEA and the possibility
that the U.K.
would suggest somewhat Ie ss declassification
than that
recommended in AEC 532/34. He pointed out that the purpose
M declassification
of &e project is to increase
the number of
~cientists who could mntribute to the project and thereby
ncrease the chance of a major basic discovery
or shorten
he time required to achieve a feasible controlled
thermomcleas reactor.
He added that he would not favor any action
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