188 



As for the first of these services, Commissioner Vance reported 

 there was already widespread recognition of the IAEA health and 

 safety role. What he said in 1959 has a contemporary sound : 122 



Concerning the general problem of safe usage, all countries with atomic energy 

 programs have a mutual concern in minimizing accidental or inadvertent con- 

 tamination of property and personal injury through adequate health and safety 

 standards. International transport of radioactive materials, waste disposal at 

 sea, and safe operation of reactors sited near national boundaries are examples 

 of problems predominantly international in nature that can best be resolved 

 through a single technically competent world organization. The Agency provides 

 both a forum and the implementing mechanism for fulfilling the common inter- 

 ests of all nations. 



As for the second opportunity for services, Commissioner Vance 

 saw a strong safeguards function for the IAEA as consonant with U.S. 

 foreign policy objectives. In his view, the recognition in U.S. bilateral 

 agreements of the ultimate desirability of transfer of safeguards re- 

 sponsibilities to the IAEA was evidence of U.S. support for this func- 

 tion. He did not elaborate on the third and fourth points. 



A Stronger Role for the IAEA: The Smyth Report of 19G2 



Whether IAEA should be given some real international operating 

 functions was a question before the State Department, the AEC, and 

 the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy in 1962. The State Department 

 in 1961 had called for a competent general review of the Agency in 

 terms of U.S. foreign policy, technology, administration, and finance. 

 To this end the State Department, in agreement with the AEC, 

 established an Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Henry D. Smyth of 

 Princeton University. 123 His committee reported in 1962. 124 



The Advisory Committee concluded that peaceful uses of atomic 

 energy ought to play an important role in future foreign policy and 

 that active support of IAEA would further this policy. Development 

 of nuclear power was the key issue in determining the usefulness of 

 IAEA. Because nuclear power was becoming economically attractive 

 in many parts of the world, it would be advantageous for the United 

 States to encourage the Agency to participate in this development. Five 

 of the Smyth Committee's six recommendations were pertinent to U.S. 

 foreign policy : 125 



(1) The United States [should] reaffirm and constructively 

 support its policy for furthering the utilization of atomic energy 

 for peaceful purposes throughout the world. 



(2) The International Atomic Energy Agency [should] be rec- 

 ognized as the most effective means by which the United States 

 can carry out that policy. To that end, activities now being con- 

 ducted under existing bilateral agreements should be transferred 

 to Agency auspices wherever practical. 



"» Ibid., p. 28. 



123 Dr. Smyth was the author of the notable wartime "Smyth Report" on the Manhattan 

 Project. A lending nuclear scientist, he was in 1902 the U.S. representative to the IAEA. 



134 Report of the Advisory Committee on U.S. Policy Toward the International Atomic 

 Energy Agency. In U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, Hearings, United 

 States Policy Toward the International Atomic Energy Agency, 87th Cong., 2d Sess., 1962, 

 pp. 37-62. 



128 In the opinion of the Committee, these functions should be to : 



a. Provide the best attainable assurance against diversion of material and equip- 

 ment to military purposes. 



b. Establish uniform health and safety standards. 



c. Provide technical assistance. 



(1. Reconcile liability and indemnification practices. 



e. Conduct international research projects. 



f . Promulgate International waste management standards. 



