COORDINATING COMMITTEE RECORD OF DISCUSSION ON FRENCH PROPOSAL TO FREE MAGNESIUM OXIDE 19TH MARCH 1960

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00647A000200020072-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 1998
• Sequence Number: 72
• Publication Date: March 24, 1960
• Content Type: MIN

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C O N F I D E N T I A L
7,& h March, 1960. COCOM Document No. 3927B
COORDINATING COMMITTEE
RECORD OF DISCUSSION
ON
FRENCH PROPOSAL TO FREE MAGNESIUM OXIDE
17th March 1960
Present: Belgium(Luxembourg), Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
References: COCOM Does. Nos. 3876 and 3915.
1. The FRENCH Delegate stated that, following the discussion of the
10th March on the r~:vision of the definition of Item 13 of the Atomic Energy
List, the United States Delegation and the competent French services had drawn
the French Delegation's attention to the fact that the French version of the
definition adopted by the Committee did not correspond to the English version
appearing in the Lists. Owing apparently to an error in translation, the words
"beryllium" and "zirconium" had been used in the French text in place of the
words "beryllium oxide" and "zirconium oxide". The United States Delegation
had further informed the French Deleg::.tion th~:t the figure of 97% of stabilised
zirconium oxide did not appear in the English text of the definition, and had
therefore requested that this figure of 97% be deleted from the French version
of Item 13 also. The Delegate stated that the competent French authorities had
not raised objection to this request.
2. The UNITED STATES Delegate confirmed that, for some reason not
known to him, the French version of the definition of Item 13 appearing in the
Atomic Energy List did not correspond exactly to the English version. To bring
it into line with the latter, the French definition of Item 13 might be amended
as follows:
"Materiaux pouvant servir pour les refractaires composes de:
- 97% ou plus, en poids, d'oxyde de beryllium ou d'oxyde de
zirconium;
- 11oxyde de zirconium stabilise par de la chaux et/ou de
1'oxyde de magnesium;
et creusets, moules et barreaux composes de Tune des substances
ci-dessus.."
3. The GERMAN Delegate stated that he could not agree to this redefi-
nition in Fr,:nch of Item 13, without first consulting his authorities. He
believed that it might perhaps be a question of substance, rather than a
straightforward question of translation. Fe recalled the Committee ruling that
the French and English versions were equally authentic.
4. The FRENCH Delegate concurred in his German colleague's remark.
He stated that, while the French technical services had not objected to the
United States authorities' request, an explanation of the United States
standpoint would. certainly be appreciated.
5. The BELGIAN Delegate stated that, like his German colleague, he
had to reserve his authorities' position, not merely on the question of the
percentage of stabilised zirconium oxide, however, but on the whole definition
as proposed by the United States Delegation. The Delegate stressed that his
authorities had always consulted the French version of the International Lists
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CONFIDENTIAL - 2 - COCOM Document No. 39278
and, before agreeing to modify the French text of the latter, he would have to
refer to his authorities. Moreover, the two suggestions made by the United
States Delegation seemed to him to be more restrictive than the present-defi-
nition. He explained that 97% of beryllium oxide represented a smaller quanti
ty of beryllium than 97% of this substance in its pure state.
6. The UNITED KINGDOM Delegate stated that he was unable to say
whether the figure of 97% mentioned for the second time in the French version
of the definition should appear in the English version. This second percentage
might possibly not be 970. He felt that the best solution would be to leave
this second percentage out of the French version.
7. The CHAIRMAN stated that in his opinion the question might not be
solely one of translation.
8. The ITALIAN Delegate agreed with the Chairman, and felt that, in
view of the nature of the problem raised, the nl~r thing that delegations
could do at that time was to ttansmit the whole redefinition proposed for Item
13 on the Atomic Energy List to their authorities for final views.
9. The UNITED ST.LTES Delegate recalled that all his Delegation was
proposing was an exact translation of the English text into French. The
question of introducing the figure of 97% appearing in the French definition
into the English text was a substantive matter, and the Delegate could but
reserve his Government's position in this respect. He suggested that it would
be undesirable to implement the Committee's previous agreement to modify this
item, until the latter had agreod on the pr?cise language to be included in
both the English and French texts.
10. The CO,lITTEE agreed that the deletion of the words "magnesium
oxide" in line 3 of the English text and in the corresponding line in the French
text would come into effect on the 1st April, notwithstanding paragraph 14 of
COCOM Doc. 3915 which allowed for the raising of objections up to that date.
The other problems identified above would, however, be discussed on the 7th
April, and would delay the issuance of an amendment to the International Lists
until that discussion had been concluded.
11. In conclusion, the CHAIRMAN noted that the Committee was now faced
with three possibilities:
1) To adopt the English version of the definition and translate it
literally into French. See paragraph 2 above.
2) To adopt the French version and translate it literally into
English. The definition of Item 13 would be that set out in the
French version of COCOM Doc. No. 3915, i.e.
"Materials, suitable for use in refractories, composed of
971 or more by weight of beryllium, or zirconium oxide, or
composed of 97% or more by weight of zirconium, stabilised
with lime and/or magnesium oxide; and crucibles, moulds and
pouring rods composed of any one of the foregoing."
3) In the latter case, to decide whether or not to include the
word "oxide" after the words "beryllium" and "zirconium".
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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