Atomic Energy Act of 1946 - Control of Information and Allies' Reaction

Control of Information and Allies' Reaction

SEC. 10. (a) Policy-It shall be the policy of the Commission to control the dissemination of restricted data in such a manner as to assure the common defense and security. Consistent with such policy, the Commission shall be guided by the following principles.


(1) The term “restricted data” as used in this section means all data concerning the manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, the production of fissionable material, or the use of fissionable material in the production of power, but shall not include any data which the Commission from time to time determines may be published without adversely affecting the common defense and security.

The new control of "restricted data" excluded the United States' allies from receiving any information or data. This displeased the British and Canadian governments, whose countries, before contributing technology and manpower to the Manhattan Project, had made agreements with the United States about the post-war sharing of nuclear technology. Those agreements were formalized in the 1943 Quebec Agreement. In the case of the United Kingdom, these were developed further in the 1944 Hyde Park Agreement, which was signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.

The provisions of the Act were substantially modified by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

Read more about this topic:  Atomic Energy Act Of 1946

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