IO Files: US/A/AC.31/35
Memorandum of Conversation, by Deputy United States Representative to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (Osborn)
Subject: Atomic Energy
| Participants: | Sir Benegal Rau,1 Indian Delegation |
| Mr. John Hickerson, United States Delegation | |
| Mr. Frederick Osborn, United States Delegation |
For an hour after dinner at Mr. Osborn’s house, Sir Benegal explained his proposal for a declaration to be prepared by the International Justices and presented to the General Assembly for the signatures of all nations. Apparently he had in mind that the declaration would be limited to a rewording of a few of the General Findings and Recommendations found in Chapter 1 of the Approved Recommendations of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission, and taken from the First Report. The Finding which he had most in mind was No. 4:
“That the development and use of atomic energy are not essentially matters of domestic concern of the individual nations, but rather have predominantly international implications and repercussions.”
In addition Sir Benegal would have the nations agree: “That there must be an effective system for the control of atomic energy”.
His idea appears to be that if such a declaration is sent to the General Assembly and all the nations sign it, it would be a first and important step which would make the negotiation of an actual treaty very much easier. Messrs. Hickerson and Osborn pointed out that everyone was already agreed and committed to “effective” control, and the disagreement was as to what kind of control would be effective. Sir Benegal said that after the declaration had been signed, then the General Assembly would be the judge of what kind of control would be necessary to make control effective.
Messrs. Hickerson and Osborn suggested that the declaration should include something to the effect that nations could not own explosive atomic materials or operate plants making or using same, but Sir Benegal said no, those matters should be left to the General Assembly after the declaration had been signed.
Messrs. Hickerson and Osborn were left with a feeling that Rau was not likely to change his mind on this matter and is quite unable or unwilling to bring himself down to practical realities. A resolution for such a declaration in the General Assembly might put the Soviet [Page 179] Union in a greatly improved propaganda position, without any possibility of its bringing agreement closer.
- Sir Senegal N. Rau, Chairman of the Indian Delegation; Permanent Indian Representative at the United Nations.↩