795.00/12–150: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—12:17 a. m.]
931. Reactions to President’s statement on A-Bomb re Sandifer–Brown1 telecon December 1. With exception of Latins, majority of delegates commenting expressed considerable concern when reports of President’s statement first spread from newsroom. Number of European and Commonwealth delegates appeared greatly shocked. Subsequent clarification had calming effect but did not entirely satisfy them. In particular, they seemed have little confidence that fears aroused at home would be allayed. Coulson, UK, spoke with emphasis along these lines today.
Federer, German observer, felt threat or even use of A-Bomb would solve nothing. It would not frighten Chinese Communists or USSR Government, since sacrifice of life was not an important consideration. Opinion expressed by several European correspondents that President’s statement would receive heavy play in Stalinist propaganda.
Among Arab and Israeli delegates, President’s clarification and our own explanations by no means dispelled impression US has under active consideration use of bomb in Korea. Opinion expressed this would inevitably start world war 3 and that bomb then would be used by USSR in other parts of world. Several Arab delegates went out of their way to convey fear, as expressed to them by Asian delegates, that A-Bomb might be dropped again on Asian people. Baroody, Saudi Arabia, today spoke with deep emotion to Mrs. Roosevelt along these lines saying matter had been discussed at length among delegates of smaller countries and requesting their views be transmitted to President. He felt impression would spread in Asia that US intended to use bomb against a colored people. If bomb used, effect on US relations would be disastrous for years to come. Mrs. Roosevelt replied war itself was basic evil. Although she hoped it would not be necessary to use A-Bomb in Korea, choice of weapons would have to be decided in terms military situation at particular time.
Dayal, India, and several members Pakistan delegation were disturbed at initial reports but somewhat reassured by later clarification. Still, they agreed threat to use bomb would reinforce idea US willing use mass destruction methods on Asians but not Europeans.
In contrast, one or two Arab representatives seemed prepared to accept use of bomb if necessary and Kanellopoulos, Greece, Sarper, [Page 1301] Turkey, Ardalan, Iran, Aziz, Afghanistan, Asad, Saudi Arabia, and Cooper, Liberia, seemed to understand President’s statement and fully approved it.
- Benjamin H. Brown, Deputy Secretary-General of the U.S. Mission at the United Nations.↩