811.2423/5–446: Circular telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives91
u.s. priority
By authority President, you are requested deliver following FonOff, restoring words omitted telegraphic brevity:
“My Government being aware interest which your country, as nation having membership United Nations Atomic Energy Commission, has in development and future significance atomic bomb, cordially extends invitation your government designate two observers witness atomic bomb tests (Operation Crossroads) which will be conducted July and August Bikini Atoll, Marshalls Group, subject to prior approval by United States Congress of the expending of Naval ships for this purpose. Test in its entirety is undertaking United States Government and not a combined or international operation.
Believing press should be represented at tests, my Government wishes to invite designation by your government one member of press of your country attend as an additional observer.
Observers will be transported scene tests aboard US naval vessel leaving San Francisco June 12. Information of general interest prospective observers will be found attached memorandum.
My Government hopes that your Government will find it possible accept this invitation. If so I should appreciate being informed your earliest convenience names two governmental observers and one press observer, together with information regarding mode of travel to US, date and port of arrival, and indication whether reservations desired on special train leaving Washington for San Francisco June 8.”92
[Here follows memorandum giving detailed administrative arrangements providing for the transportation of the observers and the newspaper reporters to the scene of the tests, and for their accommodations there.]
Announcement concerning issuance invitations will be made here at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, May 7. Simultaneously informative notes will be delivered respective Missions Washington. To avoid any possibility premature announcement abroad, please deliver note containing foregoing text as near possible or feasible to Washington release hour. Caution should be exercised [Page 752] of course ensure delivery invitation prior to arrival press despatches from Washington. Meanwhile matter should be kept in confidence.
Air mail instruction93 follows with detailed pamphlet covering all phases Operation Crossroads and full text of waiver. Also agreements which press observers will be obliged sign before boarding naval vessel. Detailed data will be available on arrival in US if not received before departure of observers.
All States members United Nations Atomic Energy Commission being invited name observers. Commission composed members Security Council plus Canada as follows: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States.
[Two atom bomb tests were carried out on July 1 and July 25. For preliminary published reports concerning the tests, see Department of State Bulletin, July 21, 1946, pages 115–117, and ibid., August 11, 1946, pages 272–275, respectively. The indefinite postponement of a third test was announced on September 6; see ibid., September 15, 1946, page 508. Reports appearing in the Soviet press evaluating the results of the Bikini atomic bomb tests tended to convey the impression that the results were a disappointment in showing the destructive power of the bombs.]
- The representatives to the countries mentioned in the last paragraph of this telegram.↩
- Ambassador Smith stated in telegram 1734, June 3, 1946, from Moscow, that Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vyshinsky in a letter of June 1 indicated that the Soviet Government had named Dmitry Vladimirovich Skobeltsyn and Semen Petrovich Alexandrov to act as official observers at the atom bomb test. Both were experts already attached to the Atomic Energy Commission of the United Nations. Designated as press observer was Abram Mendeleyevich Khokhlov, representative of the newspaper Red Fleet. All desired places on the special train leaving Washington on June 8. (811.2423/6–346)↩
- Circular instruction of May 8, not printed.↩