Quebec Agreement

The Citadel, Quebec, August 19, 1943

Articles of Agreement Governing Collaboration Between The Authorities of the U.S.A. and the U.K. in the matter of Tube Alloys

Whereas it is vital to our standard safety in the present War to bring the Tube Alloys project to fruition at the earliest moments

Whereas this may be more speedily achieved if all available British and American brains and resources are pooled

Due to war conditions, it would be a shortsighted use of war resources to duplicate plants on a large scale on both sides of the Atlantic. Therefore a far more significant expense has fallen upon the United States.

It is agreed between us:

  1. That we will never use this agency against each other.
  2. We will not use it against third parties without each other’s consent.
  3. That we will not either of us communicate any information about Tube Alloys to third parties except by mutual consent.
  4. Given the heavy burden of production falling upon the United States as the result of a wise division of war effort, the British Government recognized that any post-war advantages of an industrial or commercial character should be dealt with between the United States and Great Britain on terms to be specified by the President of the United States to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Prime Minister expressly disclaims any interest in these industrial and commercial aspects beyond what may be considered by the President of the United States to be fair and just and in harmony with the economic welfare of the world.

And Fifthly, the following arrangements shall be made to ensure complete and effective collaboration between the two countries in bringing the project to fruition:

(a) There shall be set up in Washington a Combined Policy Committee composed of:

  • The Secretary of War  (United States)
  • Dr. Vannevar Bush  (United States)
  • Dr. James B. Conant  (United States)
  • Field-Marshal Sir John Dill, G.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.  (United Kingdom)
  • Colonel the Right Hon. J. J. Llewellin, C.B.E., M.C., M.P.  (United Kingdom)
  • The Honourable C. D. Howe  (Canada)

The functions of this Committee, subject to the control of the respective Governments, will be:

  1. To agree from time to time upon the program of work to be carried out in the two countries.
  2. To keep all sections of the project under constant review.
  3. To allocate materials, apparatus, and plant, in limited supply, by the program’s requirements agreed upon by the Committee.
  4. To settle any questions on the interpretation or application of this Agreement.

(b)There shall be a complete interchange of information and ideas on all project sections between Policy Committee members and their immediate technical advisers.

(c) In scientific research and development, there shall be a complete and adequate interchange of information and ideas between the two countries engaged in the same field sections.

(d) In the field of design, construction, and operation of large-scale plants, the interchange of information and ideas shall be regulated by such ad hoc arrangements as may, in each section of the field, appear to be necessary or desirable if the project is to be brought to fruition at the earliest moment. Such ad hoc arrangements shall be subject to the approval of the Policy Committee.

Approved
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Winston S. Churchill

Original at: “Articles of Agreement governing collaboration between the authorities of the U.S.A. and the U.K. in the matter of Tube Alloys” (Cmd. 9123; London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1954).