ATOMIC ENERGY


U.S. defense planning, preparations for retaliation, and direction
for our research and development programs. There are undoubtedly a
number of moral objections which may be considered to argue against
research and development by the United States leading to the develop-
ment and test of a thermonuclear weapon. The above military con-
siderations outweigh such possible objections. In addition, it is
difficult to escape the conviction that in war it is folly to argue whether
one weapon is more ,immoral than another. For, in the larger sense,
it is war itself which is immoral, and the stigma of such immorality
must rest upon the nation which initiates hostilities.
                                      For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
                                               OMAR N. BRADLEY
                                                   Chairman
                                              Joint Chiefs of Staff

Acheson Papers,
Memorandum of Telephone Conersation, by the Secretary of State 2

TOP SECRET                        [WASHINGTON,] January 19, 1950.
  Admiral Souers3 called me today to say that the President men-
tioned the publicity on the hydrogen bomb and said that he had a re-
port from Sec. Johnson 4 which to him made a lot of sense and he was
inclined to think that was what we should do. The President had
given Admiral Souers two copies of the memorandum and asked that
one be given to me and one to Mr. Lilienthal. The report actually was
from General Bradley to Secretary Johnson. Admiral Souers said he
thought someone was playing on the unilateral side, but he would get
it back into the NSC machinery and he did not think it was too far
afield. He thought the State Department people had seen it, but I said
I was sure I had not had it.
  I said I had been talking with Paul Nitze this afternoon and asked
him to talk with Admiral Souers about a paper we have been working
on here.6
  I pointed out to the Admiral that before I committed myself to any
position on the matter I had wanted to see all the people Lilienthal
wanted me to see. I had done that and thought the next thing was to
have a meeting with Admiral Sonuers, Secretary Johnson, Mr. Lilien-
thal and any people they wanted to bring.

  Papers of Dean Acheson, Secretary of State, 1949-1953, at the Harry S.
Truman Library, Independence, Missouri.
  'Drafted by Barbara Evans, Mr. Acheson's personal secretary.
  'Sidney W. Souers, Consultant to the President on National Security Affairs.
  'Of January 13, p. 503.
  'Paul H. Nitze, Director of the Policy Planning Staff.
  " Possibly a ;reference to the paper cited in the editorial note,
infra.


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