600.0012/2–1654
No. 493
The Secretary of
State to Foreign Secretary Eden
Dear Anthony: I am writing in reply to the Aide-Mémoire which you handed me on February 10, on the subject of President Eisenhower’s atomic energy proposals.1
With respect to the third paragraph of that Aide-Mémoire, it has been our thought that our first substantive presentation to the Soviet Union by diplomatic channels should be along general lines and that prior to its submission to the Soviets, through Ambassador Zarubin in Washington, the essential lines of that plan should have been concurred in by the United Kingdom, Canadian and French Governments. It would also be given to the Governments of Belgium, Australia and South Africa, not for concurrence but for information.
We, for our part, have not reached any conclusions as to other countries participating in any subsequent negotiations. We would naturally desire that you, the Canadians and the French participate with us in the study of the Soviet plan and in the preparation of any reply thereteo. The manner of negotiation beyond that stage of course in part will depend upon the Soviets’ views.
I believe the foregoing substantially answers the fourth paragraph of your Aide-Mémoire since the Soviet counter proposal deals with the question of banning atomic weapons. It is, also, my understanding, arising from my talks in Washington with Ambassador Zarubin, that any of the participants in the talks may propose, at any future stage, that the discussion on this phase of the problem be transferred to the United Nations Disarmament Commission.
In closing I desire to emphasize the importance I attach to conducting these exchanges step by step, with maximum privacy and with a flexibility which will permit us to reach procedural decisions as they arise, without binding ourselves too far in advance as [Page 1141] to methods. It is unnecessary of course to repeat our desire and intention to work on terms of extreme intimacy with your Government in this matter.
Incidentally, I have had word from Washington that the statement under preparation for transmission to the Soviets will probably be in form to enable us to pass it to you, the Canadians and the French for study this week.
Sincerely yours,
- Transmitted in Dulte 64, Document 455.↩