635 



A fundamental tenet of our nation is freedom of communication. 

 While there are recognized risks from the unrestricted flow of ideas 

 and information, historically the benefits of such free flow, in areas 

 where research and development continue to expand, have been much 

 greater than the costs. Moreover, it is desirable to expand U.S. 

 access to foreign technical information, including that available in 

 Europe and Japan. 



The foregoing points support our view that restrictions on transfer 

 of fusion technology to EC and Japan are not likely to serve the 

 purpose of maintaining the economic and political strength of the 

 United States either in isolation or in its alliances. 



As to actual articles, services, and technical data for magnetic 

 fusion that are subject to export control through licensing, few items 

 will be primarily related to defense. Even the number of products of 

 strategic significance, including so-called dual-use items, is rather 

 small. Examples of the latter are tritium technology, high-power 

 millimeter-wave generators, advanced materials, and advanced robotics 

 for remote maintenance. In potential instances of dual use a detailed 

 examination and determination is made for each specific case. No 

 denials of export licenses in magnetic fusion have yet occurred, but 

 one cannot thereby conclude that no future limitations will arise. 

 Nor is there enough information about the more restrictive trends to 

 conclude that there will be a problem for certain. The matter will 

 have to be faced as it arises, with the expectation of operating 

 within whatever constraints are designed to safeguard the national 

 security. 



A second aspect of information and technology transfer works in the 

 other direction. The U.S. Freedom of Information Act provides that, 

 subject to a few specific exemptions, documents in the hands of U.S. 

 government agencies are available upon specific request to members of 

 the public. This circumstance may give pause to foreign partners who 

 may be concerned that information developed in a cooperative venture 

 and considered by them to be held for the sole benefit and use of the 

 partners could be released by the U.S. side into the public domain. 

 This matter is one to which some attention should be paid in the 

 detailed provisions of the governing agreements, inasmuch as it has 

 already surfaced, for example, in cooperation on breeder reactor 

 research. 



Recapitulation 



To sum up the points made about technology transfer, fusion 

 cooperation with the EC and Japan would, be an instance of its 

 advantageous aspects rather than its disadvantageous ones. To 

 introduce constraints either for national security or conunercial 



