Office of the Historian

S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63D351: NSC 30 Series

Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (Allen)1

top secret
[Washington,] September 14, 1948.

From the point of view of psychological warfare, I concur fully in the views of EUR and the NSC/30 paper. I might add that public opinion in the United States may have an important bearing on the question and might force the use of atomic weapons, even if the chief executive were inclined against it. The public would refuse to accept American casualties which might be saved by shortening the war.

Geo. Allen
  1. Directed to James Q. Reber of the Executive Secretariat, Department of State.↩