S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63D351
Report to the National Security Council by the Executive Secretary (Souers)
NSC 30
United States Policy on Atomic Warfare1
References: NSC Actions Nos. 51, 62 and 75
The enclosed report on the above subject, prepared by the National Security Council Staff with the advice and assistance of representatives of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, and of the National Security Resources Board and the Central Intelligence Agency, as directed by the Council at its 12th Meeting (NSC Action No. 62), is circulated herewith for consideration by the National Security Council at its next meeting.
- At its 9th Meeting, April 2, the National Security
Council deferred consideration of the question of the employment of
atomic weapons in the event of war (NSC
Action No. 51: S/S–NSC Files: Lot 66D95). See Secretary of the
Army Royall’s memorandum on the subject, May 19, p. 572, and Gullion’s comments thereon, p. 571.
At its 13th Meeting, June 17, the NSC a) directed the NSC staff to prepare a report on the position of the United States with respect to the initiation of atomic warfare in the event of war, including consideration of the time and circumstances of employment, and the type and character of targets against which it would be employed b) agreed that the War Council is the appropriate agency to study the proper organization within the National Military Establishment and within such other Executive agencies of the Government as may be involved to insure optimum exploitation by the United States of its capabilities of waging atomic warfare. Decision b was subsequently transmitted to the Secretary of Defense for information and appropriate action. (NSC Action No. 62: S/S–NSC Files: Lot 66D95)
At its 14th Meeting, July 1, the NSC a) noted comments by the Secretary of the Army that he felt that the Council should act on this subject as soon as possible b) noted that the Secretary of Defense wished to discuss the subject with the President before the Council took action on it. (NSC Action No. 75: S/S–NSC Files: Lot 66D95)
In a memorandum of July 7 to the Under Secretary of State, Kennan stated the following:
“There is attached a paper placed before the Staff of the National Security Council by the Department of the Air Force, dealing with United States policy on atomic warfare. The conclusions are on the last page of this paper.
I heartily concur with the analysis and conclusions of this paper.
In view of the high security consideration, I have consulted only Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Gullion on this matter. They join me in the recommendation that I be authorized to state, on the Consultants’ level, that I approve this paper for submission to the members of the Council, with the insertion of the parenthetic sentence on page 5.
The paper is of such importance that I think the Secretary might wish to see it at this stage.”
Lovett’s “L” and the Secretary of State’s “G.C.M. as amended” appear in the space designated for approval on the source text of the Kennan memorandum (Policy Planning Staff Files). The attached paper from the Department of the Air Force has not been found in the files of the Department of State.
According to The Forrestal Diaries, the Secretary of Defense discussed the possible use of atomic weapons in the event of war with Marshall, Royall, and General Omar N. Bradley, Chief of Staff, United States Army, on July 28 (Millis, pp. 461–462). Forrestal also raised the question with the Secretary of State at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting of September 10. Marshall suggested a meeting with President Truman on September 13. That White House conference was attended by the President; Forrestal; Royall; General Bradley; and General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Air Force Chief of Staff. President Truman received “the same presentation that Vandenberg made to the Secretary of State last week . . . .”on the subject of use of atomic weapons in an emergency. No record of Marshall’s briefing by General Vandenberg has been found in the files of the Department of State. Forrestal recalls that “the President said that he prayed that he would never have to make such a decision, but that if it became necessary, no one need have a misgiving but that he would do so . . . .” (Millis, p. 487)
A memorandum by Kennan to Carlisle H. Humelsine, Director of the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State, September 14, read as follows:
↩“With reference to NSC 30 it is recommended that the Secretary express his approval of this paper at the National Security Council meeting on Thursday, September 14, 1948. This paper is substantially the same as the draft which was approved by the Secretary and Under Secretary last July and does not deviate in principle from that draft, the changes being largely minor drafting changes and the addition of paragraphs numbered 12 and 13 under conclusions.” (Policy Planning Staff Files)
At its 21st Meeting, September 16, the NSC approved paragraphs 12 and 13 of NSC 30 (NSC Action No. 111). The Council took no further action on the paper. (S/S–NSC Files: Lot 66D95)