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

231. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State¹

London, June 7, 1957—9 p.m.

6820. USDEL Disarmament No. 270. Subject: Request for Instructions.

1. At USSR–US bilateral at Soviet request this afternoon, Zorin stated that past discussion between delegations had been helpful in furthering work and that Soviet Government had instructed Soviet Delegation to transmit memorandum as an informal document but at the same time, as an answer to the considerations set forth in the 31 May informal memorandum, namely “considerations of the US Government”.

2. The memorandum as Zorin read it disclosed some movement of Soviet Delegation toward US positions on inspection of nuclear testing; on force levels; on list of non-nuclear armament; and on wider application aerial inspection. It rejected US position on modified restraint of use; on failure to provide for reduction of forces in NATO and Warsaw area; on failure to agree on one-third troop reduction in Germany; on attempt to legalize nuclear weapons: and it omitted cessation of production of fissionable material for weapons purposes.

3. Stassen responded that Soviet Delegation was aware that talking paper informal memorandum was not a US Government proposal and that while he welcomed informal exchanges of views he would decline the memorandum in its present form since it referred to a US document that technically did not exist, and he asked that delivery of it be delayed until he could request instructions from Washington regarding it.

4. Zorin pressed for acceptance of the document and Stassen restated that he would defer accepting it until he received instructions from his government.

5. Request instructions whether USDEL should continue to refuse to accept, or should accept and respond with a note stating that the USDEL informal memorandum was an informal talking paper as the Soviet Delegation knows, and does not technically have any standing for purposes of a response.²

6. USDEL does not have information as to whether the Soviet intends to publish or whether they intend to submit to the subcomite next week. Stassen impression from portions of document read by Zorin is that it is not especially suitable for Soviet propaganda and would be generally interpreted as rejection of a number of major parts of US position but of some further movement in direction of US position.

7. Zorin re-emphasized at the end of the session the desire of the Soviet Delegation to work informally and the desire to continue the negotiations for an agreement for partial measures.

8. Full report of session follows in later cable.³

Whitney

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 330.13/6–757. Secret; Niact.
2. Telegram 8610 to London, June 7, responded to this request for instructions as follows: “USDEL may accept Soviet memorandum, informing others of Western Four simultaneously of intention to do so and to furnish them copies immediately. In accepting, you may state your understanding Soviets have no intention to introduce paper into Subcommittee or to publish it, in view informal nature of exchange. After examining contents of Soviet memorandum Dept will consider whether a note to Zorin is called for.” (Ibid.) A copy of the translation of the June 7 Soviet aide-memoire that was handed by the chairman of the Soviet Delegation to the chairman of the U.S. Delegation on June 8, is not printed. (Ibid., 330.13/6–857) For the U.S. reply, see Document 236.
3. A detailed report of this meeting is contained in telegram 6822 from London, June 8. (Ibid.)