Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

611.0012/10–1851

Memorandum by the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State (Battle)¹

top secret

[Washington,] October 18, 1951.

The Secretary has been over the attached on regulations of arms and armaments.² He says that he is willing to discuss it with the President and thinks the paper is all right except as noted below:

1. He prefers leaving out the definite figures in Paragraph 4 c (1).

2. With regard to Paragraph 5 on page 3,³ he believes that it would be preferable not to get into questions of budgets, etc. He thinks that the paragraph, as drafted, is somewhat dishonest and that this would probably not be the actual result of any savings in the military expenditures. He suggested wording, as follows:

“5. If such a program could be put into effect, it would lift the immense burden of military expenditures which now presses on nearly all peoples of the world. This burden has necessitated in all countries the postponement of great constructive programs of reconstruction and development which had been planned nationally and internationally. New hope and opportunity would be given everywhere for better conditions of life. Within developed countries new resources for peaceful production could be put to work. And in underdeveloped areas of the world the United Nations could undertake an intensified and concerted campaign against poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance.”

3. In Annex A,⁴ Paragraph d, it is stated that the United States is aware that in due course this program would require the United States to disclose the atomic weapons in its possession. The paragraph then says that it is prepared to take such a step. Mr. Acheson says that he does not believe that legally we are prepared to take such a step. He says such a step would be illegal. He wants Mr. Arneson and any other person concerned to consider carefully this particular portion.

1. A handwritten notation on the source text indicates that copies of this memorandum were transmitted to John D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs; R. Gordon Arneson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for atomic energy policy; Paul H. Nitze, Director of the Policy Planning Staff; George W. Perkins, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs; H. Freeman Matthews, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; Charles E. Bohlen, Counselor; and Edward W. Barrett, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.
2. Reference is to Hickerson’s memorandum to the Secretary of State, supra, and its attachments.
3. Paragraph 5 of the October 18 “Outline of Program” (Tab B to the Hickerson memorandum of October 18) reads as follows: “If such a program were in force, there would be large savings in national military expenditures. States adhering to a disarmament program could then devote a substantial portion of the money and resources which would otherwise have been spent for military purposes to a great program to provide aid to those areas of the world which need help. This would make possible an intensified and concerted campaign under the auspices of the United Nations against poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance.” (Disarmament Files, Lot 58 D133)
4. Reference is to Annex A to the October 18 version of the “Outline of Program.” See p. 562.