501.BC Atomic/12–247
The Deputy United States Representative on the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (Osborn) to the Director of the Office of Special Political Affairs (Rusk)
Dear Mr. Rusk: This will confirm our telephone conversation of this morning covering tentative plans with respect to atomic energy matters in the Security Council.
Mr. Harry of Australia this week expressed a desire to know how we thought the Security Council should handle the Second Report of the A.E.C. which is now in their hands. He felt that some action might be taken during December while Australia had the Chairmanship of the Security Council, and expressed the opinion that the Australian Delegation would like to see the Security Council simply note the receipt of the Report without further action and without discussion.1
We talked to General McNaughton of Canada and to Mr. deRose of France, and they both expressed the same view.
Our staff conference this morning held the same opinion, and I judge from our telephone conversation of this morning that we may understand this method of procedure to be acceptable to the State Department.
We believe it unlikely that the Soviet Delegation, or any others, will attempt a discussion of the Second Report in the Security Council under these circumstances. If, however, such a discussion is entered into we will be prepared to reply along the lines of the instructions [Page 699] contained in Mr. Lovett’s telegram to the U.S. Mission under date of October 18, 1947.2
Yours sincerely,