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

811.2423/1–546

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Truman

[Washington,] January 5, 1946.

The British have requested that a British scientific team be permitted to attend the forthcoming atomic bomb trials.⁴ The Secretaries of State, War, and Navy approve the idea, particularly since the British have various experts with special knowledge who would be of considerable assistance in connection with the tests, and from the military standpoint their participation would be desirable. The officer in charge of the atomic bomb project⁵ has indicated informally that he has no objection.

We should like to have your approval before proceeding.⁶

James F. Byrnes

4. For information regarding the origins of the Bikini tests, see Hewlett and Anderson, pp. 581–582.
5. Vice Adm. William H. P. Blandy.
6. The President’s initialled “OK” appears on the source text.