501.BC Armaments/11–846
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)70
I have had two conversations with Mr. Reams regarding our memorandum of November 7 to Secretary Byrnes entitled “Analysis of Molotov’s Resolution on Disarmament and Recommendations as to Method of Dealing With It”. The result of the two discussions is that Mr. Byrnes has read the memorandum carefully and agrees with it. He wishes to note one reservation for the time being. This runs to the next to the last paragraph on page 5 of the memorandum. Mr. Byrnes, as I understand it, is not questioning the propriety of such a resolution as that described in this paragraph should it be considered necessary at some stage to introduce a resolution. His point is that he thinks the time is not now opportune to introduce any resolution.71
He, therefore, wishes us to proceed with whatever work we can do and are doing on the subject matter of the memorandum along the lines of the memorandum but until we put the matter up to him again not to propose a resolution.
- This memorandum was directed to Messrs. Hilldring, Hiss, and Marks.↩
- At a November 20th meeting of the Three Secretaries, Acheson, representing the Department of State, circulated his memorandum of November 7, informing the service Secretaries that Secretary Byrnes had approved it subject to the reservation with respect to the submitting of a resolution. (811.002/1–2446)↩