711.5611/3–751
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy (McMahon)
My Dear Senator McMahon: I refer to your letter of March 7, 1951, in which you state that a question has arisen as to whether or [Page 809] not the United States has made any commitment to any other nation which might serve to delay the employment of U.S. atomic weapons after the President had decided in his own mind that he wished to use them, with particular reference to the bearing that the position of General Eisenhower as Commander of the NATO forces might have in this regard. Your letter requests a statement from me indicating whether or not any commitment to any other nation might bring about delay in the employment of American atomic weapons beyond the point in time at which, in the absence of the commitment, the President would cause this use.
I wish to assure you that no such commitment exists, and further, that the appointment of General Eisenhower as Commander of the NATO forces has not brought into being any such commitment.
In view of the sensitive nature of this problem in existing circumstances, I consider that this exchange of correspondence should be classified Secret.
Sincerely yours,