Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

811.2423/11–2945

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Halifax)

Aide-Mémoire

The Secretary of State has the honor to acknowledge the aide-mémoire dated November 29, 1945 from the British Ambassador concerning the procedure for bringing before the United Nations Organization the proposal, made in the Agreed Declaration of November 15 on atomic energy, to set up a “Commission under the United Nations Organization to prepare recommendations for submission to the Organization.”

2. The Government of the United States is pleased to note that the views of the British Government with respect to the establishment of the proposed Commission accord in general with those of the United States. This Government believes, however, that it would be unwise to attempt to establish in definite form its position on the organization of the Commission prior to discussion of the subject with the Soviet Government.

3. This Government is in full accord with the view that it is desirable to discourage the Preparatory Commission from embarking on a detailed discussion of the proposed Commission. The United States Delegate to the Preparatory Commission has been so informed and has been instructed to take this matter up with his British and Canadian colleagues.

4. This Government has received only a simple acknowledgement from the Soviet Government in reply to the Secretary of State’s message communicating the text of the Agreed Declaration. A copy of this acknowledgement is enclosed.⁴⁰

5. The Government of the United States believes that it would be highly desirable to have the Soviet Government associate itself with, or at least concur in, any proposal which may be made to the General Assembly. In reply to Lord Halifax’s query as to whether this Government would consider approaching the Soviet Government with “a view to obtaining the cooperation of the latter in submitting to the United Nations the proposal for a Commission, the Secretary of State is pleased to state that this Government plans to discuss this question promptly with the Soviet Government. It will be prepared to cover in this discussion both the method of proposing the Commission and the nature of the Commission’s authority.

6. The Government of the United States believes that consideration should also be given to possible discussions with the Governments of France and China. As the British Government is aware, the Secretary of State transmitted the text of the Agreed Declaration to the Foreign Ministers of France and China. No reply has yet been received from the French Government, but one has been received from the Chinese Government, a copy of which is enclosed.⁴¹

7. The Government of the United States is grateful for the views of the British Government with respect to the establishment of the proposed Commission under the United Nations Organization, and desires to discuss this matter further with the Government of the United Kingdom in the very near future.

Washington, December 5, 1945.

40. Not printed.
41. The Chinese reply in the form of a note, dated November 21, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Shih Chieh, expressed sympathy with the aims contained in the Agreed Declaration of November 15.