Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 1

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 212: Telegram

No. 393
The Secretary of State to the Department of State¹

top secret priority

Berlin, January 31, 1954—5 p.m.

Dulte 23. Eyes only Acting Secretary. Please pass to President and on eyes only basis to Wilson and Strauss. I saw Molotov after plenary session yesterday afternoon² to pursue procedure for next step in atomic discussions. Merchant and Bohlen accompanied me and Molotov had Zarubin and Troyanovski (Interpreter).

I told Molotov I thought we should discuss next step in procedure atomic talks since I did not wish procedural questions to interfere with results in this matter. I said in view of interest other countries in this matter such as UK, Canada, France and certain countries such as Belgium which contain sources of raw material if we should adopt conference method we would be faced with problem of what other countries should be present. Therefore for next stage we thought it was best to keep discussions confined between US and USSR on bilateral basis. I said US Govt was preparing memorandum setting forth our concept of application of President’s Dec. 8 proposal³ and that in its preparation we would take into account views of certain of the countries mentioned above but it was not our view that they should be brought into discussions with Soviet at this stage. This document when completed could be submitted to Soviet Govt through Ambassador Zarubin in Washington and at same time Soviet Govt could, if it desired, submit its proposal.

Molotov replied he had only preliminary comments to make and said Soviet Govt already awaits with interest US memorandum. He added that since question of other countries had been mentioned he would like to refer to Soviet memorandum delivered by Zarubin⁴ which made reference to involvement at later stage of countries bearing special responsibility for peace and security and in this connection he referred to five powers including Communist China. He said Soviet Govt had already prepared a document setting forth their proposal which he handed to me. (This document which is in form of draft declaration is transmitted in rough translation in part two of this message.)

Molotov inquired whether I had any objection to Eden and Bidault being informed of this document but said it was not his intention to have them involved in present talks since Soviet Govt agreed that at this stage bilateral basis preferable in interest of privacy.

I told Molotov that I would not be in any position to give him our memorandum while here in Berlin since it involved a number of delicate matters requiring expert consideration in Washington and that it would be only after my return that I would be in a position to give it to Ambassador Zarubin.

I said I would examine the document he had given me and we could have a further conversation while we were both here in Berlin, to which he agreed. He assured me in response to my question that he would not give this document to the press or make any reference to the fact of its submission.

Following is text rough translation of document Molotov handed me yesterday afternoon:

“Draft declaration of Govts of USA, England, and France, Chinese People’s Republic and Soviet Union concerning unconditional renunciation of use atomic, hydrogen and other forms of weapons of mass destruction.

The Govts of the USA, England, France, Chinese People’s Republic and USSR determined to deliver humanity from the threat of destructive war with the use of atomic, hydrogen and other forms of weapons of mass destruction,

Desirous of assisting in every way in the utilization of the great scientific discoveries in the field of atomic energy only for peaceful purposes for the well being of peoples and the amelioration of their living conditions,

Considering that the unconditional renunciation by states of the use of atomic, hydrogen and other forms of weapons of mass destruction correspond to the basic purposes of the organization of the United Nations and would constitute an important step on the road to the complete withdrawal from national armaments of the atomic, hydrogen and other forms of weapons of mass destruction with the establishment of strict international control guaranteeing the execution of agreement concerning the prohibition of the use of atomic energy for military purposes, animated by the aspirations of the peoples for a reduction in international tension,

Solemnly declare that they take upon themselves the unconditional obligation not to use atomic, hydrogen and other forms of weapons of mass destruction;

Call on other countries to adhere to the present declaration.”⁵

Dulles

1. Drafted by Bohlen and transmitted in two parts.
2. For a record of the sixth plenary meeting, see Secto 56, Document 390.
3. See footnote 2, Document 326.
4. For the text in translation, see Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 4, 1954, pp. 478–479. The memorandum was among the documents released as the result of Soviet–American agreement in September 1954, to make public the correspondence between the two governments concerning the question of an “atomic pool”.
5. In Dulte 24 from Berlin, Jan. 31, Secretary Dulles reported that he briefed Bidault and Eden on his talk with Molotov and had given each of them copies of the Soviet proposal. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 212)