Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, General; the United Nations, Volume I

501.BC Atomic/11–446

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of International Security Affairs (Johnson) to the Legal Adviser (Fahy)

top secret

[New York ?] November 4, 1946.

Subject: Soviet Position on Atomic Energy Commission

On Friday, November 1, 1946, when I was in Washington, Mr. Frank Lindsay of Mr. Baruch’s staff telephoned me to give me the following information:

Ambassador Bedell Smith went to see Mr. Baruch and members of his staff (I gather, on Thursday) to have a general discussion. When Ambassador Smith left Mr. Lindsay accompanied him downstairs and held a brief conversation with him. Mr. Lindsay told me that he had raised with Ambassador Smith the question of the possibility of a direct approach to Stalin after a vote has been taken in the Atomic Energy Commission on the Baruch proposals. According to Lindsay, Ambassador Smith thought this would be a good idea and promised to take it up with the Secretary in the near future.

Mr. Lindsay made it clear to me that the idea would be for Mr. Baruch to go to Moscow for this purpose. Mr. Lindsay also indicated that the Baruch people here think of the vote taking place before the composition of the AEC is changed by the replacement of Mexico, The Netherlands and Egypt.

I gave no indication of what I thought of this proposal. I merely asked a question in order to be sure that the idea was to have the approach to Stalin made after a vote was taken. Lindsay did make this very clear. At Lindsay’s request, I agreed not to mention the matter in Washington, but urged him to speak about this to Mr. Bohlen⁴⁸ when he saw him, which Lindsay hoped to do shortly after Bohlen’s arrival in New York.

I should like to make to you the two following comments:

(1) I think it would be a great mistake to have the approach to Stalin made after a vote in the AEC. I think an approach to the Soviet Government, presumably by the Secretary speaking to Molotoff, should be made before any such vote. If a vote is taken before the approach to Stalin, the chances of a démarche being successful appear very small.

(2) If anyone is to go to Moscow, I think Baruch should not be the senior. The Secretary would be the logical person.

48. Charles E. Bohlen, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State.