163. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (Seaborg) to Secretary of State Rusk1
Dear Dean:
The recent developments in the Middle East prompt me to recall to your attention certain projects which have been under consideration for this region for some time in the past. I am referring to the two dual-purpose nuclear desalting projects, one proposed for installation in Israel and the other proposed for installation in the United Arab Republic, which were the subject of your memorandum to the President of May 21, 1966,2 and with respect to which Ambassador Bunker was serving as the President’s special coordinator.
We recognize that the situation in the Middle East is enormously complex and that the question of what disposition should be made of these projects may not appear to be one of urgent priority. Nevertheless, it occurs to us that the possible usefulness of these projects in the overall settlement of the Middle East dispute may be rather significant [Page 290] and that they should not be lost sight of in the efforts which are now under way to develop a possible settlement.
As you know, both Israel and the UAR have attached considerable importance to their respective projects. The proposed Israeli project, in particular, always had the advantage of providing Israel with a source of water not subject to interruption by neighboring states and not dependent on the allocation of the already inadequate water resources of the Jordan Valley. Once again, it seems to me that the recent events may well intensify the problem of water allocation in the area rather than ease it. One or more desalting plants would both add significantly to the total volume of water available to the region and help overcome the problems of excessive salinity of Lake Tiberias, which is currently a limiting factor on the usefulness of the waters of the lower Jordan.
We believe it is interesting to note that at the recent Water for Peace Conference in Washington, which took place after the Middle East crisis had developed, UAR and Israeli representatives participated in a collateral meeting of nations interested in nuclear desalting and reaffirmed the strong interest of their governments in these projects.
At the same time, it has been recognized that there could be substantial political advantages to the United States in giving support to these projects. Among other things, proceeding with the projects would introduce international safeguards into the area on a major scale, and U.S. assistance could possibly be used to secure Israeli agreement to place its entire nuclear program, including the Dimona project, under IAEA safeguards. It seems to me that the recent events probably increase rather than decrease the danger that one or more of the Middle Eastern countries will feel, however mistakenly, that its best interest in the future would be served by the acquisition of nuclear weapons.
We recognize that questions have been raised as to the economic desirability of these proposed projects. The study completed by Ambassador Bunker before his departure led, in our view, to a favorable finding on this point. It demonstrated that the water that would be supplied by the proposed Israeli project would have substantial value to the Israeli economy, although, as anticipated, outside assistance would be required to overcome the gap between the tangible value of this water and its cost of production in the proposed dual-purpose plant.
[Page 291]We believe that the possible role that these projects could play in the Middle Eastern settlement is such that the financial assistance that they would require is more readily justifiable now than any time in the past. As first plants of their kind, they would give each country a start in the application of a technology which, with the improvements which we believe are inevitable, can play a major role in the future peaceful development of this area.
As you know, we have made extensive studies of this project and will be most pleased to cooperate with the Departments of State and Interior, and with the NSC Committee just named by the President, in giving them urgent consideration in the coming weeks. Commissioner Ramey is in frequent touch with members of your staff in connection with these projects and I have asked him to take responsibility for any necessary follow-up.
I am also sending copies of this letter to Mac Bundy and Walt Rostow in view of their association with you in the study of the Middle East situation.
Cordially,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC Special Committee Files, Desalination. Confidential. A copy was sent to McGeorge Bundy. A handwritten note on the source text reads “to Bator per our conversation.”↩
- Document 147.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Seaborg signed the original.↩