Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Sir William Elliott, Sir Kenny MacLean, Sir Pierson Dixon, Philip Jessup, and Others

TOP lenn DEPARTMENT OF STATE COPY NO. / OF 3 COPIES Memorandum of Conversation 275 DATE: September 11, 1951 SUBJECT: US-UK Consultation on Atomic Warfare PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Morrison (U.K.) Secretary (U.S.) Sir Oliver Franks Mr. Jessup Air Marshal Sir William Elliott General Sir Kenney MacLean Sir Pierson Dixon Junior member of British Delegation DECLASSIFIED COPIES TO: E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 Mr. Matthews State Dept. Guideline, June 12. 1979 Mr. Nitze EYES ONLY 1951 VOC. I PACE PFO By NLT- HC NARS, Date 10-9-20 ARRECURDS 1-1492 Mr. Morrison requested a private meeting with the Secretary at the end of the UK-US talk yesterday afternoon. He raised the questions proposed by a paper which I understood was written by the British Joint Chiefs on the subject of atomic warfare and the exchange of information on atomic development. MR. MORRI SON said that the : principal question was onsultation by the US with the UK before the use of the atomic bomb. He hoped to be able to receive some reply from the Secretary which he could take back with him. The Secretary said that he had discussed the matter with General Marshall and General Bradley, and that General Bradley was prepared to talk with Air Marshal Elliott. A IR MARSHAL ELLIOTT said that Bradley had so informed him, but that the question remained of politico-military talks. He wondered whether he and Sir Oliver could talk with General Bradley and someone from the State Department this week in order that Mr. Morrison would know the outcome before he returned. MR. MORRISON said that he would very much like to be able to talk finally about this with the Secretary before he left. He said Mr. Attlee might be questioned in the House almost any time as to whether the U.S. had agreed to consult. He referred to the conversations between Ambassador Douglas and Mr. Bevin in regard to the agreement on the use of bases in the U.K. He referred also to the conversations between Prime Minister Attlee and the President. He said the question of consultation was broader than the use of bases in the U.K. He thought that perhaps consultation should include the U.K. and Canada and said the Prime Minister felt strongly about it. The SECRETARY TOP SECRET