t l---- OECL ASS ED ----- _ ' r y j l fitl1'i - _ Reproduced at the National A VJ II qr sq - j fl Y t1A l' ' 0 'f o '111 ln1J' __ - f J L ECRET DEPARTMENT OF ATE NGff - JE_ 4 4991 ASSISTANT SECRETARY q J1 t O J Zl consis - i ge 1 f- This document No _I_ of 6 copies October 6 1966 TO I FROM NEA - Stuart W Rockwell SUBJECT Turkish Interest in Atomic Weapon Development I believe it would be preferable for S S to arrange appropriate distribution of the attached September 30 letter and enclosure from Ambassador Hart reporting possible Turkish interest in atomic weapons development t t l l We have retained copies of these documents for our own use - ' ' Attadhments Lette r and enclosure GROUP 3 Downgraded at 12-year intervals not automatically declassified SECRET MICROFILMED BY S S CMS NEA TUR MDraper he s SBICRft This document consists ot pages No 1 ot oopies series A EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ankara Turke r ' t o _ 1 September 30 1966 OFJICIAL-INJORMAL 1ohn M Howison Ksquire Countr r Director for Turke r Bureau of Near Bastern and South Aeian Affairs Department of S' ate Washington D C Dear 1ohn The enclosed -orandwa to me from our Minerals Attache Science Officer Clarence Wendel on possible Turkish ambitions to develop an atoaic weapon is obviously a matter of considerable delicao r and for this reason we have decided not to report it in routine fashion b r means of an irgram I leave it to you to pass on this inforaation to such people in Washington as you deem should have it I aa keeping distribution limited here to a few senior officers including General Evans and 1obn Leavitt We will of course keep our eyes and ears open for an r further signs of Turkish aotivit r which might indicate preparations for atomic weapon production U7 preliminary assessment is that the Turks are not preparing to follow in tba oa ts tepa __ __thft Fr oi QiLb_ t are si ly putting them elve -- p - t_io to Jump on_ the andwago - 88 fliers idldUICI 0 'l irther serious breaks in the line against pl Ori teration o ----- - Bnoloaure Meaorandua Septeaber 26 1966 GROUP 1 IZoluded troa autoaatio downgradinc and deo1asaif1oat1on SBCRIT Reproduced at the Nabona I I f C-0-P-Y TO C-0-P-Y SIORlllT -The Ambassador September 26 1966 THRU OOU - Ur Martin FROM Scienoe Ottioer - Ur Wendel SUBJICT Reported TGS Ambitions for Development ot Atomio Weapon A source considered reliable trom the Turkish Scientific Research Colincil by telephone requested an appointment at m7 otfioe September 23 He appeared within a halt hour and after mentioning a routine matter oonneoted with an international oonterenoe with obvious agitation disclosed a matter whioh he had learned just the evening before from the General Direotor ot the M T A The M T A Director Alpan had been asked to cooperate with General Tulga and Professor Omer Inonu Professor of Physics at METU in a Turkish program to develop an Atomic Bomb Souroe thought that suoh a program was one whioh would absorb too muoh of Turkish soientitio and financial resources Without noticeable ranoor or desire to impugn the subject he mentioned that Professor Inonu had been to Russia last swmner When I observed that this plan of General Tulgaos was probabl7 seoret in view of its obvious militar7 and political implications he said he realized that but wanted me to know of it nevertheless Connent Some indications support the possible oredibilit7 of this stor1 1 Repeated Turkish assertions that a 200 mega-watt nuclear reactor is planned tor Istanbul 2 The emphasis and expenditures of the M T A during the last six or seven 7ears on uranium exploration resulting in indicated reserves ot 300-600 tons ot uranium in lowgrade ore deposits The dela7ing and haggling taotios ot the Turkish negotiators during discussions ot the extension of the bilateral agreement on peaceful uses of atomic energ1 which primaril1 concerned the transfer of safeguards responsibility from the U S A to the International Atomic Energ1 Agency 3 i T4 _ dA o al'- Tc u et 111 t - o1 u i J r v iM 1 -1 1-'l k l ' f lM o ' a hih s h tv f C-0-P-Y SECRET lt f t 1u 1 C- 9-P-Y i t 1 r 1G s Reproduced at the National Al i c o-P-Y 0-0-P-Y 2 under a trilateral agreement Of particular interest were reservations expressed at times regarding the applioabilit7 of these safeguards to new reaotor taoilities -- a point whioh was not relevant to the present agreement and whioh as the U S representatives suggested could be covered by a subsequent power reaotor bilateral agreement CAWendel om C-0-P-Y SECRET C-0-P-Y This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu