330.13/4–253
The Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson) to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge)1
Dear Cabot: As you will remember, we had anticipated that the United States would follow a line in the United Nations Disarmament Commission which would involve a relaxed attitude and relatively little activity in the Commission.2 Such a position would spring naturally from the contrast between the adamantly obstructive attitude which the Soviet Union had exhibited in the deliberations of the Disarmament Commission thus far and our own record of cooperativeness and flexibility.
It seems fairly certain, however, as a result of recent developments, that such a position cannot be followed. The succession of Soviet overtures for settlement of outstanding differences has extended itself to the field of disarmament. The Soviet Union has indicated its intentions in a number of ways—particularly through submitting a more flexible resolution in connection with the Disarmament item in the General Assembly and through the unprecedented step of voting in favor of most sections of the resolution supported by the United States.3
It thus seems quite possible that we may have a considerable degree of activity in the Disarmament Commission with possible new proposals from the USSR and from states trying to bridge the gap between U.S.-USSR, as well as any proposals which we may wish to put forward. All this will involve a great deal of work within the United States Government both in New York at the [Page 1140] United Nations and in Washington. Down here, we have to carry on our operations on an inter-Agency basis because of the major role played both by Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission.
Previously, Ambassador Austin has acted as the Representative of the United States on various United Nations Commissions but a Deputy Representative was also designated, who in many instances, including disarmament, carried on most of the work. We would hope that you would be willing to act as the Representative on the Disarmament Commission and give these problems as much of your time as possible. However, it seems advisable to appoint a Deputy Representative, who would devote full time to the problems of disarmament and would be able to work with the Departments of State and Defense and the United States Atomic Energy Commission here in Washington, as well as to participate in the activities of the Disarmament Commission in New York.
I would greatly appreciate your views on these matters, believing that we should make the appropriate decisions on these problems as soon as possible in view of the vast amount of ground which we must cover before the Disarmament Commission resumes its sessions—which presumably will be in May.
Sincerely yours,