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

600.0012/12–2253

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)¹

top secret

[Washington,] December 22, 1953.

• Participants:
• The Secretary
• Sir Roger Makins, British Ambassador
• Mr. Merchant—EUR

As the British Ambassador was leaving the Secretary after a call on another subject, he raised the question of preparations for the impending talks with the Soviets on atomic matters arising from the President’s December 8 speech before the United Nations General Assembly. The Ambassador said that he assumed, as did London, that these talks would be conducted in the United Nations Subcommittee.

The Secretary pointed out the fact that the President gave alternatives and did not stipulate the forum for such discussions. He went on to say that he was inclined to consider the UN Subcommittee less suitable due to the fact that it had a wider membership than what might be described as the parties most directly concerned. He said he thought it might be wise to confine the talks to the British, the Soviets and ourselves although he recognized that Canada had a certain position in this regard. In any event the Secretary said that there was as yet no agreed US position in this matter.

The British Ambassador said that they would like to talk to us before the US puts in any papers on either substance or procedure and he asked whether Admiral Strauss were the proper individual to speak to in the US government on this subject. The Secretary replied that Admiral Strauss was the responsible official on matters relating to nonmilitary uses of atomic energy but that of course in the weapons field other Departments of the government had a direct interest. He added that he thought it would be desirable to set up within the US government a working party for the purpose of preparing for these talks, among whose members would be representatives of the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission.

The Secretary went on to say that as he had stated in reply to a question that noon at the National Press Club,² the United States Government was prepared, in accordance with the terms of the President’s December 8 speech, to accept a framework for the talks somewhat broader than mere discussion of the “World Bank” plan.

1. Copies to the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Minnich at the White House, S/S, G, C, S/P, UNA, and R. Gordon Arneson.
2. Secretary Dulles addressed the National Press Club on Dec. 22, on the North Atlantic Council meeting at Paris, Dec. 14–16. His address is printed in Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 4, 1954, pp. 3–7.