Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 2

330.13/8–1054

Department of State Press Release No. 434

[Washington,] August 10, 1954.

Atomic Pool Plan

In view of the fact that the President, at his last news conference referred questions concerning the atomic pool plan to Mr. Dulles,¹ the Secretary, at his news conference today, was asked if he would elaborate on the status of the negotiations with the USSR on this plan. Mr. Dulles made the following reply:

I think the broad history of this is pretty well known although not the details because we agreed, in the beginning that we would try to handle this particular matter in terms of an exchange of diplomatic notes and private talks. Some people had felt that it would be possible to make better progress with the Russians if instead of having public diplomacy we tried to negotiate quietly and privately with them. So it was agreed with them and, in fact, suggested by the President’s message of December 8 to the United Nations Assembly that we would have private talks on this matter.

I am sorry to say that the private talk method does not seem to work any better than the public talk method. I am afraid that the difficulties in dealing with the Soviets are so fundamental that the getting of positive cooperative action involves something more than a change of method.

I had several talks with Mr. Molotov at Berlin and at Geneva and we gave him various notes which had been prepared in concert with some of our Allies who are principally concerned, which elaborated the President’s program.

I still do not feel at liberty to disclose the texts of what was said or describe these talks in detail because, as I said, we had agreed on the private exchange of note method. I can say that the last note which we had on this matter was wholly negative, or perhaps I should say, 99 per cent negative. We have in substance asked the Soviet whether they wish it to be treated as 100 per cent negative.

In the meanwhile we are making plans on the assumption that we will have to treat it as 100 per cent negative. In that event we hope to go ahead with the program in association with other countries. There are several in a position to contribute material to the program and many which would like to benefit from the program in terms of exploring and developing the possibilities of atomic energy for peacetime, life-giving purposes. That phase of the matter is being actively considered while we await what may be the final answer from the Soviet.

Asked whether this consideration was in consultation with the other countries concerned, Mr. Dulles replied:

The concrete plan which was proposed to the Soviet Union was considered actively, before it was submitted, with some of the Allies who are most interested in the problem from the standpoint of being able to contribute fissionable material.

Now, the adaptation of that program to one which would eliminate the hope for cooperation of the Soviet Union, that program, in the first instance, is still being considered by the United States Government and we have not yet gotten in detail into talks with our associates about that phase of the problem. But that would presumably come at an early stage.

Asked whether the exchange of notes between this country and the Soviet Union would be released when that position was reached, Mr. Dulles replied:

That would require an agreement on both sides and I cannot say whether or not the Soviet Union would care to have the exchange of notes made public.

1. For the remarks on the subject made by the President at his news conference of Aug. 4, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954, p. 683.