Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

861.646/12–445: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, December 4, 1945—2 p.m.
[Received December 4—12:56 a.m.]

4048. Regarding atomic energy Soviet press has consistently held position that discovery of atomic bomb was hailed by Anglo-American reactionaries who desired to use bomb’s monopoly by Anglo-Saxons to exert pressure diplomatically on USSR, while progressives in Allied countries urged sharing knowledge of atomic energy technology with USSR. Following significant examples of this line appeared in press past few days.

1. Trud survey on Trade Unions abroad November 30 quoted UAW President Thomas²⁷ in letter to President Truman as opposing belief that force alone could be best defense for US and reported that Thomas advocated international control over use of atomic energy and urged strengthening unity of Three Great Powers. Survey emphasized that progressive US workers were especially worried by policy adopted by US in connection with atomic energy.

2. All papers December 1 carried despatch telephoned by Tass²⁸ correspondent at Paris anti-Fascist Women’s Congress reporting that US delegate Pinchot and British delegate Pratt-Clark had hotly protested against keeping secret discovery [and] utilization of atomic energy and insisted that discovery should be shared with Allied Nations for peaceful purposes, and that Congress supported this demand.

3. Red Fleet article December 1 “Struggle for Peace and Intrigues of Reaction” asserted that reactionaries wished to make disclosure of secret of bomb or participation in control over it dependent upon “fulfillment by USSR of certain conditions”.²⁹

Sent Dept 4048, repeated London 617, Paris 434.

Harriman

27. Rolland Jay Thomas, President, United Automobile Workers since 1938.
28. Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union.
29. The Military Attaché in Moscow, Brig. Gen. Frank N. Roberts, believed that an editorial in the magazine of political opinion, New Times, for December 18, 1945, might be of significance because of the timing of its publication with the meeting of the three Foreign Ministers in Moscow. He reported that the editorial said in part: “Responsibility for peace in coming atomic century is larger than ever before and peace loving nations should prove now they can collaborate on lasting basis. Will of Soviet Union for close international collaboration in interest of a firm peace and security of peoples is unshaken.”