Office of the Historian

118. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations1

Washington, February 24, 1956—5:54 p.m.

510. Re USUN’s 623.2 Since Japanese resolution submitted by Ambassador in Washington3 Department suggests you thank Japanese observer for manner in which resolution transmitted and inform him that any formal comment on substance if made will first be made in Washington. In response observer’s request for informal comments from UN angle you may wish mention that question cessation of tests may be discussed Disarmament Subcommittee in accordance GA resolution4 and refer Lodge statement December 55 that US believes if agreement can be reached to eliminate or limit nuclear weapons within framework effective system disarmament and under proper safeguards, there should be corresponding restrictions on testing of such weapons.

USUN may also wish note to Kitahara6 US consulted Japanese Government re issuance test announcement and gave Japanese prior notification re establishment danger area. US proposed Japanese membership UN Scientific Committee on Radiation and US representative [Page 346] has discussed matters mutual interest with Dr. Masao Tsuzuki7 Japanese representative. Over past two years US and Japanese scientists have exchanged data on radiation standards, tolerance levels, etc.

Since resolution transmitted all recipients in confidence, we assume SYG will not circulate or take any action in connection with it.

While we cannot prevent USSR using resolution in Disarmament Subcommittee we should if possible attempt prevent or delay efforts by Soviets or SYG bring resolution to attention UN in other contexts.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.5611/2–1756. Official Use Only.↩
  2. Not printed. (Ibid.)↩
  3. On January 14, Sadao Iguchi, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, presented to Deputy Secretary Murphy a note transmitting resolutions passed by the Japanese Diet the previous week calling for the discontinuation of all nuclear tests. (Ibid. 711.5611/2–1456)↩
  4. Reference is to U.N. General Assembly Resolution 914 (X) approved on December 16, 1955; see Document 88.↩
  5. For Lodge’s statement made in Committee I (Political and Security) on December 5, 1955, see Department of State Bulletin, January 9, 1956, pp. 55–61.↩
  6. Hideo Kitahara, Japanese special observer at the United Nations.↩
  7. Japanese doctor and author of Medical Report on Atomic Bomb Effects (1953) and Atomic Bomb Effects from the Medical Standpoint (1954).↩