501.BC Atomic/9–447: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Brazil
us urgent priority
1015. You are requested to make urgent representations to FonOff concerning following situation which has arisen in UN AEC.
Deputy US Rep on UN AEC has been informed by Brazilian Rep that he intends proposing amendment to document entitled “Functions of the International Agency in Relation to Stockpiling, Production, [Page 625] and Distribution of Nuclear Fuels and the Design, Construction, and Operation of Isotope Separation Plants and of Nuclear Reactors” (AEC/C.2/39/Rev. 2.). This document is one of six on functions proposed international atomic agency which has been developed by majority members of UN AEC in working groups of Commission and is to be considered next week by AEC for incorporation Second AEC Report to SC.
Brazilian amendment would state that “no restrictions shall be imposed on the nations that hold raw materials relative to the use of material for pacific ends.”
If amendment fails of acceptance Brazilian Rep is instructed to have recorded his Govt’s reservation on this point. This Govt considers that such an amendment would be denial of Baruch proposals and of First Report of AEC to SC which was approved by Brazil. It would be strongly opposed by other delegations who had joined in development of important working papers which represent many compromises including those made at request of Brazil.
We believe that if the plan for international control of atomic energy put forward by the majority of the UNAEC delegations were made subject to such a limitation it would become meaningless. Although the language of the Brazilian amendment is sweeping and imprecise, it does appear to contemplate an exemption entirely inconsistent with the central requirement of a workable control plan which is the development of a strong international control agency with full responsibility for all the “dangerous” activities involved in the production of atomic energy. Of these, mining, distribution and stockpiling of raw materials are at least as important as any.
As the Brazilian delegation must be aware the processes for the production of atomic energy for weapon use and for peaceful use are throughout most of their courses identical and inseparable. The Brazilian reservation would appear to leave a large loophole in control schemes which would invite evasions and diversions. The country “holding” raw materials would apparently have only to profess peaceful intentions in order to safeguard itself from strict international control and inspection. The Brazilians have only to ask themselves if they would be prepared to credit such professions if made by any power. Moreover, no security would exist if it were left to each nation to make its own decision as to the amount of raw material to be declared or placed under the control of the international agency.
The Brazilian amendment would fail of passage and would make for bad feeling among delegations which could be exploited by Soviets.
This Govt strongly desirous Second Report of AEC reflect clearcut issue that majority accepts effective and adequate international system [Page 626] control of atomic energy and USSR does not. Such a reservation would cloud the record and permit the Soviets at a crucial stage in these deliberations to point to such departures as lack of confidence in the proposals developed by majority.
On above grounds urge FonOff to reconsider present instructions. Inform Dept results immediately.1 Sent to Rio repeated to New York.
- In telegram 1235 from Rio, September 6, Ambassador Pawley reported that on the previous day, while in an automobile with President Truman (who had delivered an address on the occasion of the signing of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, September 2), he had asked President Dutra of Brazil to read a translated summary of the present telegram. Dutra had stated that he was familiar with the question and would take the necessary action to see that Brazil conformed with the Baruch proposals to which it had previously agreed. On September 6, Pawley was informed that telegraphic instructions were going forward to the Brazilian Delegation at the United Nations to the effect that the Brazilian amendment be withdrawn and that no reservations be registered. (501.BC Atomic/9–647)↩