Office of the Historian

Atomic Energy files, lot 57 D 688, “IAEA Policies”

Memorandum for the File, by the Consultant to the Secretary of State for Atomic Energy Affairs (Smith)

confidential
[Washington,] October 13, 1954.
  • Subject:
  • Conversation with Adm. Strauss on October 13, 1954
[Page 1530]

I showed him Delga 91 from New York1 to point up the problem that we are going to have to keep Senator Lodge within bounds and told Strauss that we had replied in the negative.2

I pointed out the dilemma which proceeding under sections 124 and 123 would pose for United States participation in the International Agency. I suggested that the alternative treaty route should be considered which would permit United States cooperation with members of the Agency even though they could not qualify for a section 123 bilateral. Strauss said he took a pragmatic point of view which indicated that we should cooperate with friendly nations first. For example, he said that he thought the Pakistanis would be properly disgruntled if we cooperated with India before cooperating with them. I gathered that Strauss felt it would not be too difficult for us in the International Agency to work with our friends only, at least in the early years, in the matter of enriched material research reactors.

I then discussed the idea of dedicating a reactor experiment or a reactor to the International Agency or for work in this country by friendly foreign nationals. Strauss said that he had been thinking about putting up a reactor in Puerto Rico. He said he thought that if we build any reactors we should tie them into generating systems. He seemed to think well of the idea.

I told him I thought we were losing ground in the disarmament negotiations in New York and that the United States should make some dramatic gesture to point up clearly the sham nature of the new Soviet proposals. I suggested that this effect would be obtained by the United States proposing that the Soviets now permit United States representatives to visit Soviet atomic energy installations simultaneously with Soviet representatives visiting American atomic energy installations on an unclassified basis. Strauss seemed to think well of the idea but pointed out the domestic political liabilities of making such an offer in the pre-election period.

I discussed with him what reply we should make to the Soviet note of September 22. He asked me to send over this exchange of notes. I pointed out that our aim should be to offer to continue negotiating with the Soviets on the March 19 plan but at the same time preventing them from jeopardizing our efforts with the other seven countries. I suggested that we offer to examine with Soviet [Page 1531] experts the “seepage” problem. He thought well of this idea and suggested that Moscow be the site. On this score of “seepage” he stated that the solution was simple. Merely require all chemical processing of fuel elements in power reactors to be done under UN auspices.

Strauss, in conclusion, asked me if I would write him informally on the above matters.

  1. Telegram Delga 91 from New York, Oct. 12, not printed, contained a suggestion from Ambassador Lodge that, after the treaty creating an International Atomic Energy Agency had been negotiated, it be submitted to the UN General Assembly for approval before being sent to the national legislatures for ratification. (600.0012/10–1254)↩
  2. The response was actually transmitted in telegram Gadel 47 to New York, Oct. 15. (600.0012/10–1254)↩