501.BC Atomic/8–2747: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

[Extracts]
top secret

3728. For the Ambassador.

[Here follow paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of telegram 777 from New York, August 26, supra.”]

4. The United States does not intend at this time to take any action looking to the termination of the negotiations in the UNAEC. It will continue to seek agreement on international plan for the control of atomic energy.

[Here follow paragraphs 4 and 5 of telegram 777.]

7. In view of these differences with the Soviet Union, the Department has been considering what further steps are necessary to progress toward the elimination of atomic weapons and the development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes only. Following the submission of the second report, the United States, the United Kingdom and [Page 618] Canada may wish to consider together the situation arising out of the failure thus far to reach any agreement in the UNAEC.

[Here follow paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of telegram 777.]

11. We believe that instructions to representatives of the Western powers in the UNAEC should be framed not only with reference to the exigencies of the debate and the problem of atomic energy control in the abstract, but must also be consistent with the position in which they find themselves vis-à-vis the Soviet Union and with respect to one another. Therefore, the views expressed by Secretary Marshall in his telegram number 2486 of June 10, especially numbered para 4, seem to apply to present situation with even greater force.

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Lovett
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