Letter to F H Panton, British Embassy, Subject: Reports Regarding the Fabrication of Wrought Beryllium at Oak Ridge and Rocky Flats (Appendix H to 311131)

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British Defence Staffs Enclosed are two reports concerning the processes used in the fabrication of wrought beryllium at Oak Ridge and Rocky Flats. It is planned to publish these reports on an unclassified basis in the near future. The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment has played a key role in stlmnlatlng interest in wrought beryllium and in the resulting cooperative^ effort. Some of the United Kingdom Information concerning beryllium ' technology has been transmitted under the designation of "COMMERCIAL**, i.e., proprietary. The United States Information concerning beryllium which has been furnished the U.K. has not carried « similar restriction. The policy of the U.S. Government is to make available to the public those technological advances which are developed as a result of Government expenditures, providing they do not endanger the national security. United States developments in wrought beryllium are now considered to be at a stage where disclosure should be made on an unclassified basis. Also, procurement actions are planned which make it desirable to Inform U.S. beryllium companies of the improved process. Accordingly, we are anxious to publish the information contained in the enclosed documents. We have carefully reviewed these reports and are of the opinion that they do not contain U.K. "COMMERCIAL" information. We are, however, pleased to make them available for review. Should there be comments on the re ports, it would be appreciated if they were received no later than April 4, 1966. We plan to make a general release of the information shortly there after. In the meantime, dissemination will be restricted to cases for We believe the success in developing wrought beryllium has been another outstanding example of the mutual benefits accruing from cooperation under Brigadier General, USAF Director of Military Application