Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers

Memorandum by Roderic L. O’Connor, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, to the Consultant for Atomic Energy Affairs (Smith)

top secret

On July 12 the President spoke to the Secretary and said that we should get busy on his (the President) December 8 plan without waiting for Russia.

The Secretary later called Admiral Strauss to report this. Strauss said that he was glad to hear that. The bill would be reported out Wednesday, July 14, and Strauss said he thought it would pass in 3–4 days.1 When this happened, Strauss said he would work out some conferences—the first would be with Belgium. The Secretary stated that he was in favor of this. Admiral Strauss said that he would let the President know the above information. He said there may be a public announcement as soon as he, Strauss, gets the legislative authority.

Roderic L. O’Connor
  1. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 was not approved by Congress until Aug. 16. See the editorial note, p. 1505.