AT THE 2 DECLASSIFIED 1 Authori - im o m rem mag gym '5 DEPARTMENT 4%ng cement so sists etef epagos Rani-u Copy Ha 40 45 Me a onversa on DATEM 'h6 1953 3 are 3 some I SUBJECT Use of United Kingdom Bases and Consultation 131th the United Kingdom on the Use of Atomic Weapons United Kg dom United States Foreign nister Eden Secretaryr of State Dulles Ambassador Sir Roger Makins Mr Arneson Sir Pierson Dixon Mr O'Connor COPIES To - DEPT REVIEW Cl Rotam class n Change classify to Declassify with concurrence of 5 no 12953 25 after IFS mow I a UL 62 1-4453 Speaking to the general problem of atomic weapons Secretary Dulles said we should not allow a taboo to be put on inventiveness In his 1 View it was wrong to attach the stigma of immorality to any particular weapon Doubtless the first wild animal that was killed by man armed with whatever weapon be it club or stone felt that man had taken i unfair advantage of it One could not stop inventiveness nor the x improveztent of weapons The problem Was how to deal with these improve- KN meets and how to use them if necessary Immorality attached to the launching of aggressive war not to the means that might be used for waging it As to the general problem of casus belli war would occur whether the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Moscow or ten block asters Mr Dulles felt that the problem to be considered was whether he United States and therUnited Kingdom should consult together on the HEL 853me so Soc 35 QSIOOLL smunnv swede New AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES air-v his 5 ip 'ir 41 1 DECLASSIFIED Authori o' 1426 5-2 25 In We Unejg r SEBHWA I question of going to war or not rather than on the question of the use of atomic weapons as such Foreign Minister Eden said that as regards the use of United Kingdom bases it was recognised that the commitment for prior agreement should be in general terms without singling out atomic weapons He recalled the pertinent text of the Trumanp hurchill communique of January 9 1952 which dealt with this point Ehe cited language is as follows Under arrangements made for the common defense the United States has the use ofrcertain bases in the United Kingdom we reaffirm the understanding that the use of these bases in an emergenqy would be a matter for joint decision by His theety's Government and the United States Government in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time f7 Hr Eden stated that what the United Kingdom wanted on this aspect of the matter was simply a reaffirmation by the new Administration of the understanding quoted above He hoped that the President and the Secretary 'would consider whether it might be possible to give this reassurance publicly The United Kingdom Government attached great importance to having this assurance reaffirmed by the new Administration Mr Dulles inquired of Mr Arneeon whether it would be necessary to take this point up with the National SecuLity Council nr Arneson responded that this position had already received the concurrence of the Department of Defense REP R0530 ED AT THE NATIONAL ARCH-WES patina Mme S hy u 3 5 DECLASSIFIED Authovit 5 2 5 I W331 SEE MY the other agency most vitally concerned and that the Secretary could give his agreement to the insertion of this language without further checking Hr Dulles stated that he was prepared to agree to have language along the lines quoted inserted in the communique and that the text as contained in the Truman Churchill communique seemed about right to him Minor drafting changes would be desirable principally to substitute confirm for reaffirm This being agreeable to Mr Eden it was left that Mr Arneson should prepare the language to be inserted in the communique which it was expected would be issued the following day Mr Eden said that the other matter which the Prime Minister had asked to take up was the question whether President Eisenhower would be prepared to give Prime Minister Churchill a private personal assurance- as Truman had done with Attlee and Churchill-ethat the Presi- dent would not decide on the use of atomic weapons without consultation with the United Kingdom Mr Eden stressed that the United Kingdom did not want any publicity on this assurance if given nor would they intend that this assurance should constitute a power of veto by the United Kingdom The United Kingdom considered itself in a very exposed position in the event of war and had a vital concern about possible use of atomic weapons Ambassador thins recalled that under the Quebec Agreement the United Kingdom had a veto on the use of atomic weapons- this veto had been abrogated by subsequent negotiations _namely those leading to the modus vivendi of January 7 19h3 The personal assurances given by REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES ngma i i DECLASSIFIED 4 Authori 5 2i $358 l f ih i -u I Mr Truman to Attlee in 1950 and Churchill in 1952 had been most helpful i 12 The united Kingdom hoped that such private assurances could again be given by'President Eisenhower Mr Dulles asked Mr Arneson what we knew about these prior personal commitments or Arneson stated that while no such assurances had been officially given it was understood that Truman had talked privately with Mr Attlee about his own personal intention to consult with him in the event a decision to use atomic weapons had to be taken The official governmental position on this matter was as reflected in the joint communique issued on December 8 1950 and the joint communique of the Truman-Churchill talks dated January 9 1952 The private assufances given Attlee by Tnuman could not be con- sidered binding on the United States Government either at the time or subsequently At most such assurances were personal in nature Mr Eden agreed that there was no official governmental commitment involved in the private assurances referred to and the United Kingdom was not asking for a governmental assurance What they did hope for Has a personal and private commitment from President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Churchill that the President would Consult with the Prime Minister prior to taking a decision to use atomic weapons as Dulles said that the United States looked upon the United Kingdom as its major ally'and would hope for its full support in the event of war The United States flearhy did not want to take any action which would endanger the safety of the United Kingdom To the extent that time and circumstances permitted the United States would of course wish seem a nun AT THE NATIONAL 351 1 DEC Authorit '52- 25 I h 1 sh SEGURITY f ih m to consult with the United Kingdom on situations that may arise which might lead to general war we would also want to consult together as to the means best calculated to deal with the situation He felt that this was the more useful approach to adopt _ds to the question of a personal commitment from the President this of course was a matter which could be decided only'by the President himself hr Dulles under- took to bring the matter to the President s attention noting that Mr Eden intended to raisd this point with the President on Monday march 9 In commenting on the nature of the requested personal assurance me Dulles said it was obvious that President Eisenhower if_he chose to give such assurance to Prime Minister Churchill could give it only for himself and to Churchill personally Such assurances clearly could not be binding on others hr Eden commented that this was indeed so He felt certain however that should a new Prime Minister come into office in the United Kingdou'he too would be most anxious to have such assurance After the meeting broke up Hr Arneson prepared the draft language to be incorporated in the communique on the question of the use of United Kingdom bases and also a memorandum for the President from the Secretary suggesting the position that should be taken on the _question of giving a personal assurance to Churchill After some editing this memorandum was signed by Secretary Dulles and dispatched to the 3 White House prior to the Secretary s departure for the General Assembly i in New York Saturday afternoon march 7 1953 of in e S AE RGArnesonzjd cranium ammonium                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu