FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME J


  In a conversation on several matters, Mr. Rasmussen mentioned an
open letter from a Mr. Niels Bohr, a distinguished Danish scientist.
Hle said that he had not understood all of the letter but felt the main
point was that if the Western world would make some declaration of
the sort suggested, it would be a step in the right direction. Mr.
Acheson said that he had talked to Mr. Bohr and had studied his
letter. He said he was not sure whether Mr. Bohr meant that we
should make the offer knowing that it would be rejected and merely
hoped for a favorable public reaction or whether Mr. Bohr really
thought that the offer would result in the U.S.S.R. accepting and
complying with it.
  Mr. Rasmussen said he thought the U.S.S.R. would refuse and could
not believe they would accept.
  Mr. Acheson said he thought it possible the U.S.S.R. might accept
but not comply with it. In fact, he said, he was convinced that they
would not really comply. Mr. Acheson said he could see merit in the
proposal ,if the idea were purely to show the world we were making a
real effort to cooperate. He assured Mr. Rasmussen that we were study-
ing the letter and had it very much in our thoughts.


                          Editorial Note

   On October 24, 1950, the fifth anniversary of the coming into force
 of the United Nations Charter, President Truman addressed the Gen-
 eral Assembly. The portion of the President's remarks devoted to regu-
 lation of armaments and international control of atomic energylisted
 three basic principles upon which a successful plan for disarmament
 would have to rest: (1) the plan must include all kinds of weapons; (2)
 it must be based on unanimous agreement; (3) it must contain adequate
 safeguards.
   The President's address also included the following-statement:
   "Much valuable work has already been done by the two disarmament
 commissions !on the difficult technical-problems confronting them. I
 believe it would be useful to explore ways in which the work Of these
 commissions could now be more closely brought together. One possi-
 bility to be considered is whether their work might be revitalized if
 carried forward in the future through a new and consolidated disarma-
 ment commission.",
   For the full text of the address, see GA(V), Plenary, volume I,
 pages 245-247, or Department of State Bulletin, November 6, 1950,
 pages 719-722.


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