116 FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950; VOLUME I

IO Files: US/S/1616

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, |
Member of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly

RESTRICTED” = si [New Yorr,] December 1, 1950.

Subject: “Possible: Use of the Atomic Bomb i inKorea -

Participants}: Dr. Jamil M. Baroody, Delegation of Sandi Arabia
pol oe _ Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, United States Delegation

After tthe meeting of the Third Committee? this morning,
Dr. Baroody spoke to me with deep emotion about the President’s
announcement of yesterday concerning the possible use of the atomic
bomb in Korea. Dr. Baroody said that this matter had been discussed _
at great length among representatives of all the “little countries” and
that he would be: ‘grateful: if I would transmit their views to the
President. ,

Dr. Baroody said that the delegations representing the Near East
and Asia were profoundly distressed and disturbed over the Presi-
dent’s announcement that he was considering the possibility of using:
the atomic bomb against the Chinese Communists: The word “possi-
bility” would disappear by the time the announcement reached Asia,
and people would hear only that the United States intended to use the
atomic bomb against the Chinese Communists. The people of the whole
Asiatic continent ‘would, never. understand why the American people
had decided to use the atomic bomb against them. They would regard
it as an action of the white race against the colored races. They would.
never forget that the atomic bomb was used first against the Japanese
and later against the Chinese, but never against any white peoples.:
This fact. would have a disastrous effect upon the relations of the
United States with ‘the rest of the world. for years to come.. He said.
that everything possible should be done to prevent sucha disaster. -

TI replied that I quite. agreed that the atomic bomb was.a terrible.
weapon but that I had to ‘point out that other weapons ‘were also
terrible in their effect ; indeed, war itself was a terrible thing. Whether.
the atomic bomb should be used in Korea would have to: be decided.
entirely in‘terms of the military situation at a particular time; that.
would. be true of any kind of weapon. I added that I. hoped that ”
would not be necessary tor use ‘the atomic icbomb i in Korea. . ee

Member of the Permanent ‘Saudi Arabian. Delegation a at the Unitea Nations: :
Alternate Member of the Saudi Arabian Delegation to, the General Assembly,
'?The committee of the General Assembly dealing with Social, humanitarian,
and cultural issues. |