Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 212: Telegram
No. 455
The Secretary of
State to the Department of
State1
Dulte 64. Eyes only for Acting Secretary. Eden has just handed me an Aide-Mémoire text of which follows. In giving it to me he [Page 1030] said that he was not quite sure that it accurately reflected our views and that he would like me to examine it and redraft any appropriate passages so that it set forth our views.
I read it hastily and said I would be glad to study it but that I must tell him that the third paragraph did not represent the U.S. position since insofar as I knew we had not taken a final position on the countries to which the proposals would be referred before they were submitted to the Soviet Government.
You will of course also note extent to which Eden is attempting to secure our agreement to further steps not yet decided by us. I shall give him no reply beyond my immediate comment reported above until I hear from Washington. I regard it as important, however, that I should give him written reply here promptly.
Verbatim text follows:
“President Eisenhower’s Atomic Energy Proposals2
On January 31 I told Mr. Dulles that I was sure that we were ready to open discussions on the proposals to be put to the Soviet Government as soon as the State Department desired. I have now confirmed that H. M. Embassy are ready to open discussions with the State Department in Washington at any time.
My understanding of the procedure which has been agreed for the discussion of the President’s proposals with the Russians is as follows:
The proposals will first be agreed between the United States, British and Canadian authorities and then be put to the French, Belgian, Australian and South African Governments. Thereafter the proposals will be submitted to the Soviet Government through the Soviet Ambassador in Washington. We understand that from that point the United Kingdom, Canadian and French Governments will participate fully with the United States and Soviet Governments in the subsequent negotiations.
As regards the Soviet counter proposal to ban the use of atomic weapons,3 my understanding is that a discussion on this subject will also take place to begin with through diplomatic channels in Washington, and that the participants shall be the same as for the discussion of President Eisenhower’s proposals. It is also my understanding that it will be open to any of the participants to the talks to propose at any stage that the discussions should be transferred to the United Nations Disarmament Commission should this seem to be desirable”.
End verbatim text.
- Drafted by Merchant.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 396.↩
- For the Soviet proposal presented by Ambassador Zarubin at a meeting in Washington on Jan. 19, see footnote 4, Document 393.↩