Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Regulation of Armaments; Atomic Energy, Volume XX

176. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

Washington, March 6, 1957—5:18 p.m.

6112. Re disarmament. Following text of letter sent by Stassen to Noble March 6.²

Begin verbatim text.

Thank you for your letter of February 7, 1957,³ noting the acceptance by Her Majesty’s Government of the formula agreed ad referendum at our meeting of January 31.⁴

I am authorized to inform you that the United States Government also accepts the formula and welcomes the support which the United Kingdom is prepared to give to the United States disarmament proposals. Also, your understanding with respect to negotiations in regard to the United Kingdom nuclear posture in the event of an affirmative reaction by the USSR corresponds to our own.

I have also taken note of your statement to the effect that the United Kingdom wishes to review the whole question of limiting nuclear test explosions in the light of the technical discussions which took place in Washington. For our part, we are considering the views expressed by you and your associates during these discussions. You will recall that the United States position is that no test limitation should become effective prior to implementation, under adequate inspection, of agreements regarding the cessation of nuclear production for weapons purposes and transfers of fissionable material from previous production to peaceful purposes; we have not yet been able to see a solution to the difficulties attendant on an independent test limitation agreement.

It is my understanding from a statement which you made towards the end of our meeting of January 31 that you would recommend to Her Majesty’s Government that there be further consultations between our two governments before the United Kingdom made any public statement regarding any new proposal on the question of limiting nuclear test explosions. I would appreciate your informing me at your convenience if Her Majesty’s Government agrees to this position.

End verbatim text.

[Here follows the text of Noble’s February 7 letter to Stassen.]

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 600.0012/3–657. Top Secret. Drafted by Baker, cleared by Toner and Wolf, and approved by Walmsley.
2. Dulles noted in a memorandum to Stassen, March 5, that an enclosed draft reply to Noble, which already had the concurrence of Stassen, DOD, and AEC, constituted a satisfactory response to Noble’s February 7 letter. (Ibid., 600.0012/3–557)
3. Not printed. (Ibid., Disarmament Files: Lot 58 D 133, Disarmament Policy)
4. Attached to Noble’s letter, not printed. Noble headed a British delegation which met with Dulles, Stassen, and other American officials in Washington, January 30–31, to discuss disarmament policy. Summaries of the meetings are in telegrams 5290 and 5323 to London, January 31 and February 1. (Ibid., Central Files, 600.0012/1–3157 and 600.0012/2–157, respectively)