Department of State Atomic Energy Files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. John R. Burton. Jr.95
Subject: Talk On French Disarmament Proposal at Luncheon Given by Mr. deRose of the French Delegation, Attended by Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Burton.
Had lunch with Mr. deRose of the French Delegation on Thursday, November 21. The general subject of the proposed French disarmament agreement was discussed. It seems certain that the French intend to submit some kind of a disarmament proposal in the near future. They are not certain in their mind yet, however, exactly what form this will take, and it might be that the copy we have is more in the nature of a trial balloon. The conversation developed the fact that the drafting was hurried and had not yet received the entire approval of either the local delegation or the French Foreign Office.
The only feature which was discussed at this particular luncheon with Mr. deRose was the inclusion of the concept of atomic energy control within the framework of any general disarmament proposal, and particular reference was made to any features involving an atomic truce while negotiations proceeded. The French point of view which, incidentally, is not shared by the entire French Delegation, is that some form of atomic truce would have a beneficial effect on negotiations. The length of time of the truce was stated to be six months. That had been chosen since the French were led to believe that it took six months to manufacture an atomic bomb from fissionable material. There was no thought that the United States should cease the manufacture of fissionable material which, of course, had peacetime applications but only cease the manufacture of atomic bombs. It was called to Mr. deRose’s attention that the subject of general disarmament which would be discussed during this six months was so vast that it was doubtful whether agreement could be reached within that time on even a majority of the problems involved. He was asked what the reaction would be at the end of the six months period when we announced recommencing of atomic bomb manufacture. He admitted that this would have a disastrous and depressing effect on world opinion and might cause more harm in the long run than if the atomic truce had never been mentioned in the first place. He again stressed at this point [Page 1039] that the atomic truce was not favored by all the members of the delegation but evidently there is some substantial pressure behind this idea from undisclosed members. In closing, he was asked his opinion of the French reaction to a statement by this Government that it had ceased the manufacture of atomic weapons. He stated, “The average Frenchman in the street will simply say, ‘Oh, the United States has so many of the bombs anyway that they do not need to make any more’ It was pointed out to him that based on this very frank statement, he could see what an empty gesture any such move on our part would be, and its failure to have any real beneficial effect on international negotiations at this time.
- Staff member, United States Delegation to the Atomic Energy Commission.↩