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SEGREL THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON December 14, 1950 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT The attached clipping from the Washington Post will probably generate a question at your next press conference with respect to the report that a "firm arrangement binding the United States not to act alone in using the atom bomb. " was arrived at in your talks with Prime Minister Atlee. When Secretary Acheson appeared before the joint meeting of the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Relations he was questioned about the language in the communique issued by yourself and the Prime Minister. Mr. Acheson stated categorically to the Committees that the communique represented a full and complete statement of all that was done in connec- tion with atomic ener by at these meetings. When the Committee members attempted to get him to explain the meaning of the language in the communique he insisted that the language was clear and he could neither add nor subtract anything. Mr. Acheson has asked me to express the hope that you could also take the line that the language is full and com- plete, if you are questioned about it. He is concerned that any attempt to explain the language will create speculation and lead to very real difficulties. : the for James E. Webb E.W ebb DECLASSIFIED Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 By packed State NLT NARS, 78-30 Date 1-12-11 SEGREL