-RE(GULATION OF ARMAMENTS6


    It would be most useful to the Department of State to obtain from
  the Atomic Energy Commission a- current evaluation, without regard
  to politicalissues, of this plan to determine whether any tehnological
  changes have occurred or are likely to occur in the:United States or
  abroad which would change,- the technioal assumptions which underlie
  this plan or which would invalidate it or necessitate changes in its
  control features.
    Since there is some urgency in ,this matter, I should appreciate
  receiving the resultsof this evaluation as soon as possible.
    Sincerely yours,                               D1~N ACHESON

  10 Files: US/S/C.3/37.
  :Menradzn-oC~onversation, by Mr. Charles H, Russell, Adviser,
             United States Mission at the United NatioWns
 CONFIDENTIAL'                         [NEw YORK,] April 25, 1950.
 Subject: Conventional Armaments.
 Participants: Mr. David Cole, United Kingdom Delegation,:..
               Mr. Harry M. Shooshan, Jr., UNP
               Mr. Charles H. Russell, United States Mission
   1. Cole said at lunch today that he thought that the reluctance of
 the Foreign Office to renewed activity in the Commission for Con-
 ventional Armaments, and the Working Committee, was due more to
 devoting time to what he called a "futile effort" than to the
absence
 of the Soviet Union over the question of Chinese representation. The
 Foreign Office had expressed and recently amplified views which were
 opposed to the resumption of the work of the Commission in the
 absence of the Soviet Delegation; he thought they were also reluctant
 to ask the British Chiefs of Staff to pass on questions in the field of
 disarmament when their minds were occupied with morepressing
 problems of an opposite nature..
   2. Cole said that speaking for himself only, he could see that there
were arguments for the Working Committee proceeding to the for-
mulation of the general principles of a plan of safeguards ("aind he
admitted that this might even be desirable from a U.N. point"of view)
provi-ded hat every effort was made to avoid bringing matters t a vote
before ,he Soviets returned. There was discussion of the point. which
would be reached before ,any question of voting would arise. He in ti-
mated that his delegaition had recommended that the Working Com-
mittee proceed With its program avoiding if possible bringing matters
to a vote in the absence of the Soviet Delegation.
  3. Cole said that obviously the U.K. Delegation could not oppose
anything being done in the Working Committee when other delega-


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