Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 2

600.0012/12–2153: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State¹

secret
niact

Moscow, December 21, 1953—7 p.m.

745. For the Secretary. Reference: Embtel 743.² Molotov said that he had asked me to call in relation to our conversation of December 7³ concerning President’s speech on atomic armaments and he then handed me an 11 page document. He also told me that this document was being released to press at 7 o’clock and would be on the Moscow radio this evening to be published in Soviet press tomorrow along with President’s speech.⁴

Operating portions follow in immediately following telegram.⁵

In essence they constitute Soviet acceptance President’s proposal for talks, expectation Soviet Government for further clarification substantive proposals, statement that during discussion Soviet Government will make proposal for commitment participants not to use atomic and other weapons mass destruction which could be first important step towards abolition atomic weapons with establishment strict international control.

In body of document, however, President’s substantive proposal receives negative response on grounds that (1) only small portion of material would be turned over to proposed body; (2) does not limit use of atomic weapons and therefore will not halt atomic arms race.

Bohlen

1. A handwritten notation on the source text indicates this telegram was repeated unnumbered to Paris and London.
2. In niact telegram 742, Dec. 21, Bohlen had reported that Molotov had “asked me to call at 6 p.m. Moscow time undoubtedly for purpose receiving Soviet reaction to President’s proposal.” (600.0012/12–2153) Telegram 743, niact from Moscow, Dec. 21, “for the Secretary” reads: “I have just heard that Foreign Ministry has called press conference for 7 p.m. Moscow time. In all probability it is to announce publicly Soviet reaction to President’s proposal which I assume Molotov will give me at 6 (Embassy’s telegram 742).” (600.0012/12–2153)
3. See telegram 669 from Moscow, Dec. 7, p. 1287.
4. The text of Soviet statement of Dec. 21, responding to President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” proposal, is printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 18, 1954, pp. 80–82, and also in Documents on Disarmament, 1945–1959, vol. I, pp. 401–407. Secretary Dulles publicly acknowledged the Soviet reply in press release 666, Dec. 21, in which he stated, inter alia, “It has long been evident, and the tone of the Soviet response makes it even clearer, that little can be achieved by the continuance of public debate. The United States will, through the new channels which the Soviet Union now accepts, explore every possibility of securing agreement and bringing President Eisenhower’s historic proposal into the realm of creative action.” (Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 4, 1954, p. 9)
5. Telegram 746, niact from Moscow, “for the Secretary”, Dec. 21, not printed. (600.0012/12–2153)