600.0012/1–1254
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)1
- Subject:
- Atomic Energy Proposals
In accordance with the Secretary’s instructions I saw separately today Ambassadors Makins, Heeney and Bonnet to give each of them an oral, factual account of the Secretary’s discussion yesterday with Ambassador Zaroubin regarding procedures for the atomic energy talks. All three of them were appreciative and each agreed to the importance of maintaining complete secrecy.
Ambassador Makins displayed a lively interest in every element of the discussion and asked me questions. He was specifically interested in discovering whether or not the Secretary had made any specific suggestions to the Russian Ambassador concerning the participants in any of the talks. I told him that at no time had the Secretary mentioned the name of any country (other than the US and the Soviet Union) but that he had suggested as illustrations the possibility that any talks on control of atomic weapons might be confined to the nations actually possessing them whereas in discussions of the peaceful use of atomic materials it might be considered that the nations principally involved would include countries possessing the raw materials. (Sir Roger questioned me concerning the status of the substantive preparation for these talks within the US Government and I replied that I was not familiar with this and suggested that he talk to the Secretary or Mr. Murphy.)
Ambassador Bonnet mentioned that the Secretary had told him that he would discuss this subject with Mr. Bidault in Berlin. He referred to the embarrassment felt in Paris over constantly inspired stories from London and elsewhere to the effect that the US Government was keeping the United Kingdom and Canada fully informed, with the implication that France was not so being informed. I agreed that at such point as we might make a statement we would attempt to find a formula which would not name those allies specifically who were being kept informed but which would be so worded as to avoid giving the impression that France was excluded. Ambassador Bonnet left the impression with me (understandably enough) that the French would prefer to see these talks held in the forum of a Subcommittee of the UN Disarmament Commission composed of the US, the USSR, the UK, France and Canada.
By agreement with Mr. McCardle and Mr. Suydam2 the calls of Ambassadors Makins and Heeney on me were not listed on the Press Room calendar. The French Ambassador’s call was so registered and by agreement with him before he left my office he was to confine himself to answering any press queries as to its purpose by saying that he had called at his request to discuss certain matters related to Berlin (which subject we did briefly discussions).
[Page 1341]After completing the above talks I so reported to the Under Secretary, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Arneson.