Liveblogging World War II: July 19, 1945: Interim Committee: Notes
Notes of the Interim Committee Meeting:
PRESENT:
Members of Committee : Dr. Vannevar Bush, Dr. Karl T. Compton, Dr. James B. Conant, Mr. George L. Harrison, Acting Chairman
By Invitation : Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves , Brig. Gen Kenneth C. Royall, Mr. William L. Marbury, Lt. George S. Allan, Lt. George M. Duff, Jr.
I. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SCIENTIFIC PANEL:
The Committee considered a memorandum... [that] requested the [Scientific] Panel to study in some detail the future program of research and development in this field with particular reference to the scale of effort that should be planned for in terms of scientific and technical personnel and financial outlay... so that the Committee might gain a more specific understanding of the dimensions of this subject and its implications to the scientific resources of the nation....
II. BUSH-CONANT MEMORANDUM CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:
Drs. Bush and Conant placed... the question of establishing in the United Nations organization some mechanism for international control.... The committee felt... this question should be deferred until after the Potsdam Conference....
III. EXCHANGE OF CABLES WITH THE SECRETARY OF WAR....
Mr. Harriso... raised the question whether a letter of congratulations should be sent on behalf of the Secretary of War to Dr. Oppenheimer. The Committee unanimously agreed this should be done.
IV. LEGISLATION:
Dr. Bush reported that Senator Magnuson of Washington was that day introducing a bill which followed closely the recommendations made to the President in Dr. Bush's report 'Science--The Endless Frontier.'... It was agreed that the organization established by legislation should be known as the 'Commission on Atomic Energy.'... With regard to the members of the Commission it was felt that they should not receive a salary but rather a per diem so as to avoid making the positions susceptible to political pressure.... Some divergence of view developed concerning the provision in the draft for two Army and two Navy officers out of a total of nine members.... Dr. Conant expressed concern about the sweeping powers given to the commission over research.... Bush strongly urged that the bill should contain a positive statement of intent to the effect that the Commission whould normally depend on the universities to carry forward the basic research program.... Dr. Bush felt that the censorship and security provisions of the bill were too broad.... It was generally agreed that the section of patents should empower the Commission to impose secrecy orders on patents...
