501.BC Atomic/6–1147: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
3183. Department’s telegram 2486, June 10, 9 p.m. Your message was promptly conveyed to Bevin. He indicated that he had heard that a US proposal governing the control of the development and use of atomic energy for purely commercial purposes might have the effect of denying to this Government development of such energy for industrial purposes. This, he said, was cause of concern to his Government. Moreover, he stated candidly that there was a feeling here that our Government had not observed the arrangements that had been made at Quebec1 and Hyde Park.2 I explained to him that our Government was bound by the express terms of the legislation providing for the establishment of the American Atomic Energy Commission. These provisions, I pointed out, prohibit by law full exchange of information and therefore necessarily covered our action.
I pressed the point that no approval should be given by his Government and no proposal be advanced by his delegates until further consultations had been had between us. He agreed to your request and stated that no such approval would be given and no proposal would be presented until there had been further consultations which he suggested could best be held here because his technical experts are located in London. He added that he was meeting with the Prime Minister this afternoon and that he would telephone Cadogan in New York notifying him of his action and suggesting that the plenary session called at Gromyko’s request be adjourned.
In view of the fact that Bevin has agreed to further consultations before taking any action, suggest there be sent here as soon as possible expert who has a full background of the negotiations in New York.
I leave for Berlin today for visit with General Clay3 but can return on moment’s notice.4 This is satisfactory to Bevin.
- In regard to the Quebec agreement, see footnote 4, p. 787.↩
- For the text of the aide-mémoire of conversation between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, at Hyde Park, September 18, 1944, see Foreign Relations, The Conference at Quebec, 1944, pp. 492–493.↩
- Gen. Lucius duB. Clay, Commanding General, United States Forces in Europe; Military Governor for Germany.↩
- In a marginal notation of June 11, Joseph E. Johnson indicated that he had been informed by Herbert Fales, Assistant Chief of the Division of British Commonwealth Affairs, that the Ambassador had departed for one week.↩