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

Lot 55D 540 Box 266

Memorandum by an Informal Interdepartmental Committee^44a

[Washington, December 10, 1945.]

Draft Proposals on Atomic Energy for Submission to Soviet Government

It is the earnest desire of the United States to collaborate with other nations for the purpose of developing with the greatest practicable speed international measures to prevent the use for destructive purposes of atomic energy and other means of mass destruction, and to promote the use of atomic energy and other scientific advances for the benefit of mankind.

The President of the United States announced on October 3, 1945, that, in furtherance of this purpose, it was the intention of this Government to hold conversations with the other Governments associated with it in the development and use of atomic energy, and subsequently with other governments. The first step having been taken, it is now desired, as the next step, to hold exploratory conversations with the Soviet Government in regard to this matter which is of such vital importance to the peace and well-being of the peoples of the world.

As the Soviet Government is aware, the Governments of Great Britain, Canada and the United States believe that a commission should be established under the United Nations Organization to study the problems raised by the discovery of atomic energy and other related matters and to make recommendations for submission to the Organization. It is the hope of this Government that the Soviet Government will join in the sponsorship of a proposal to this effect at the first meeting of the United Nations in January, 1946. A draft embodying the present views of the Government of the United States as to the method of establishing the commission is submitted herewith.^44b It is the desire of this Government to have a full exchange of views on this draft and to learn whether the Soviet Government will join in a proposal along these lines.

It is the belief of this Government that the substantive problem presents very difficult questions; in consequence agreed international action is likely to be exceedingly complex and must be based upon careful and earnest study.

The problem appears to this Government to consist of a number of separate although related segments. These segments include (1) the ever-widening exchange of scientists and scientific information; and scientific techniques and materials, (2) the development and exchange of knowledge concerning natural resources, (3) the exchange of technological and engineering information, (4) safeguards against and controls of methods of mass destruction. It is the belief of this Government that successful international action with respect to any phase of the problem is not necessarily a prerequisite for undertaking affirmative action with respect to other phases. Affirmative action should be taken whenever it is likely to be fruitful.

This Government believes that mutually advantageous international action might well be undertaken promptly with respect to the first segment listed above—the exchange of scientists and scientific data. This Government attaches great importance to the development of effective collaboration in all fields of science.

The other segments present very troublesome questions which require for their solution the devising of effective, reciprocal and enforceable safeguards acceptable to all nations. The United States Government does not purport to have the solution to these questions, but it is eager and willing to work with the Soviet Union and other nations toward the establishment, as rapidly as possible, of mutually acceptable arrangements for full collaboration in these areas. To this end the United States Government will be glad to consider such proposals as the Soviet Government may wish to make in respect to any phase of these problems and to discuss them with the Soviet Government both in the United Nations Commission and separately.

[Annex]

Proposed Recommendation for the Establishment by the United Nations of a Commission To Deal With the Problems Raised by the Discovery of Atomic Energy and Other Related Matters

I. Establishment of the Commission

The Commission should be established by the General Assembly which is the only body, under the terms of the Charter, possessing the authority to examine the entire problem of atomic energy.

II. Reports of the Commission

The reports of the Commission should be made to the General Assembly for transmission to the members of the United Nations, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council. The General Assembly should also request action of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council on those aspects of the reports which require action, and which fall within the respective jurisdiction of those bodies.

III. Composition of the Commission

The Commission should be composed of one representative each of those nations represented on the Security Council, and Canada when that nation is not a member of the Security Council. Each representative on the Commission should have such assistants as he may desire.

IV. Rules of Procedure

The Commission should establish its own rules of procedure. It should choose its own officers, and have whatever staff may be deemed necessary.

V. Terms of Reference of the Commission

The Commission should proceed with the utmost dispatch and inquire into all phases of the problems, including the following matters, and make such recommendations from time to time with respect to them as it finds feasible: (1) wide exchange of scientists and basic scientific information for peaceful ends, (2) further measures to facilitate and promote the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, and the controls necessary to limit its use to such purposes, (3) the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and all other weapons capable of mass destruction, and (4) effective safeguards by way of inspection and other means for those nations complying with the recommendations of the Commission.

The Commission should not infringe upon the responsibility of any organ of the United Nations, but should present recommendations for the consideration of those organs in the performance of their tasks under the terms of the United Nations Charter.

[Subannex]

Draft of U.S. Proposals on Exchange of Scientists and Scientific Data

A. Exchange of Scientists, Scientific Information

1. The exchange of scientific information, scientists and students between all nations for peaceful purposes should be encouraged and extended to the end that each nation may fully benefit by the scientific progress made by others.

2. In furtherance of this objective the following steps should be taken:

a. A Declaration of Principles regarding Scientific Freedom should be adopted, to which all nations should subscribe and which should be based on the following policies:

1. Each nation should agree to invite visits of foreign scientists freely to its laboratories where basic scientific research is carried on, as may be arranged by the participating governments or by the scientists themselves, and with no artificial barriers applicable to foreigners that do not apply to its own nationals; to encourage and assist its own scientists to travel freely for such purposes; and to further the exchange of students for the same purposes.

2. Each nation should agree to encourage its scientists to publish freely and to give the widest dissemination to the results of their work.

b. In implementation of the Declaration of Principles outlined above, there should be within the framework of the United Nations an International scientific agency charged with the responsibility of fostering full cooperation among nations in the exchange of scientists and scientific information. In carrying out this responsibility the scientific agency should encourage the dissemination of fundamental scientific information in all fields including the field of atomic fission, further the exchange of scientists and students and make arrangements for the calling of International Science Congresses.

B. Exchange of Isotopes

An international exchange of certain radio active isotopes which are useful for scientific and medical research should be initiated. This exchange might well be carried on through the medium of the central agency for the international exchange of scientific information outlined in the preceding proposal. It should be coordinated with the measures outlined in (A) in such a way as to make such exchange of isotopes of maximum usefulness.

1. For an account of the interdepartmental working group which drafted these proposals and of the policy committee which considered them and recommended them to the Secretary of State, see The New World, 1939/1946, pp. 471–472. The policy committee met in the office of Benjamin V. Cohen, Counselor of the Department of State, and its other members were Adm. William H. P. Blandy, Drs. Bush and Pasvolsky, and Messrs. Harrison and Bohlen.
2. For a later version of this document, see p. 665.