THE SOVIET UNION



811.2423/446: Circular telegram
[T1he Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomnatic Representatives 91

RESTRICTED                      WASHINGTON, May 4, 1946-S a. m.
U.S. PRIORITY
  By authority President, you are requested deliver following FonOff,
restoring words omitted telegraphic brevity:
  "My Government being aware interest which your country, as nation
having membership United Nations Atomic Energy Commission, has -
in development and future significance atomic bomb, cordially extends
invitation your government designate two observers witness atomic
bomb tests (Operation CROSSROADS) which will be conducted July and -
August Bikini Atoll, Marshalls Group, subject to prior approval by
United States Congress of the expending of Naval ships for this
purpose. Test in its entirety is undertaking United States Govern-
ment and not a combined or international operation.
  Believing press should be represented at tests, my Government
wishes to invite designation by your government one member of press
of your country attend as an additional observer.
  Observers will be transported scene tests aboard US naval vessel
leaving San Francisco June 12. Information of general interest
prospective observers will be found attached memorandum.
  My Government hopes that your Government will find it possible
accept this invitation. If so I should appreciate being informed your
earliest convenience names two governmental observers and one press
observer, together with information regarding mode of travel to US,
date and port of arrival, and indication whether reservations desired
on special train leaving Washington for San Francisco June 8." 92

  [Here follows memorandum giving detailed administrative arrange-
ments providing for the transportation of the observers and the news-
paper reporters to the scene of the tests, and for their accommodations
there.]
  Announcement concerning issuance invitations will be made here
at 7: 00 P. M. Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, May 7. Simultane-
ously informative notes will be delivered respective Missions Wash-
ington. To avoid any possibility premature announcement abroad,
please deliver note containing foregoing text as near possible or
feasible to Washington release hour.  Caution should be exercised

1 The representatives to the countries mentioned in the last paragraph of
this
telegram.
92 Ambassador Smith stated in telegram 1734, June 3, 1946, from Moscow. that
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vyshinsky in a letter of June 1 indicated
that the Soviet Government had named Dmitry Vladimirovich Skobeltsyn and
Semen Petrovich Alexandrov to act as official observers at the atom bomb
test.
Both were experts already attached to the Atomic Energy Commission of the
United Nations. Designated as press observer was Abram Mendeleyevich
Khokhlov, representative of the newspaper Red Fleet. All desired places on
the
special train leaving Washington on June 8. (811.2423/6-346)



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