Pravda Article on Atomic Pool Proposal

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01441R000100060015-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: June 9, 1954
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
SUBJECT: Pravda Article on Atomic Pool Proposal
1. The Pravda article (attached) of 29 May
is the first public rejection of President Eisenhower's
atomic pool proposal. The burden of the Soviet argument
is that the plan provided for only a small quantity of
atomic material to be placed under international control,
and that it is a "new step on the path of further in-
tensifying the atomic weapon race." The consistent
Soviet line that the outlawing of atomic weapons must
be the first step to an agreement on atomic energy is
repeated and stressed.
2. The article closely parallels a Soviet aide
memoire to the State Department of 27 April similarly
rejecting the pool proposal. Publicly divulging Soviet
opposition, and the rationale for its refusal to cooperate,
suggests Soviet concern at anything that is indicative of
Western coalition. Pravda displays a noticeable sensitivity
to the President's recent-consideration of a plan to go
ahead on a pool idea "without waiting for anyone."
Accusing the United States of preparing an "international
atomic energy cartel", it is alleged that US ruling circles
would like to control atomic research in all capitalist
countries. At the same time, the tone of the article
suggests Soviet fear that rejection will be a propaganda
loss. This article, and another in Pravda on 1 June,
criticizes the US press for "distort n-g the Soviet position."
3. There have been indications for some time in
Soviet propaganda that the Kremlin intends to exploit
the universal fear of atomic warfare. This public re-
jection, which could weaken the facade of Soviet reasonable-
ness, probably was timed to coincide with the end of the
World Peace Council meeting in Berlin when a final resolu-
tion called for an international agreement among the great
powers to end "experiments dangerous to humanity", and
to prohibit the use of atomic weapons. The WPC resolution,
together with the recent build-up of Orbit propaganda on
atomic energy and the utilization of non-Communist support,
indicates the development of an intensive "peace front"
campaign for a ban on all weapons of mass destruction.
This campaign appears to be an effort to regain the "peace
initiative" and at the same time it serves to obscure the
Kremlin's current rejection of the atomic pool proposal.
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4, The Soviet objective apparently is to render
it politically difficult for the United States to use
nuclear weapons in any future war except in retaliation
to an Orbit attack, to convince the world of Soviet re-
taliatory capabilities, and to maximize the impact of
Communist disarmament proposals..
25X1A9a
Assistant Director
Current Intelligence
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S '2 A -TOE E O rs (` PP 1 or,
25X1A9a
In connection with the Memoraaadb m of the Government of the
USA dated March 19, containing supplementary explanations concerning
the international organ (agency) of atomic en,.:rg , discussed in
President Eisenhower's statement of } )ecenbr ;, 1953, the Soviet
Government considers it necessary to state the: following considerations.
In the afore-mont!onsd statemonts'r of t.-ho Frresident of the USA
which underlined the special der.. ger of the atomic weapon, a proposal
was made that the appropriate states allocate a small part of the
atomic materials out of their stooks for the disposal of the Inter.
national Agency to use for peaceful n=eeds. In: the Memorandum of
March 19 several details of the oroanization of the afore-mentioned
International ^gency im a gi Jen, but those rea;.a r.-ks which were made
by the Soviet Government in Its statement of December 21 concerning
the statement of the President of the USA on December 8 were
completely ignored. Nevertheless, thes? remarku of the Soviet
Government. aim to achieve an agre cent concerning the prohibition of
atomic weapons and to secure; the acceptance of an obligation by the
states in the very near future not to use atomic and hydrogen weapons,
which are by their nature weapons of aggression.
In his address of December 8 the President of the USA declared
"My country wants to be constructive, not destructive. It wants
agreements, not wars, among nations". In this statement the
President of the USA also said: "The United States, heeding the
suggestion of the General Assembly of the United Nations,, is instantly
prepared to meet privately with such other countries as may be
'principally-involved, , to seek 'are acceptable solution' to the atomic
eacmem race which ovc .-shadows not only the peace, but the very
life, of the world".
These statements of the President of the USA expressed wishes
for peace, a , ; yeerYi,9:ng to find a solution of the problem of the
atomic armament race, together with represent tines of other countries
and a desire to achieve "agreements, not wars, among nations". In
as much as it is the constant aspiration of the Government of the
USSR to assist in strengthening peace among nations and under present
conditions, in particular, to assist in the elimination of the threat
of an atomic war, the Soviet Government has expressed readiness to
take part in the appropriate negotiations.
However,
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However, thG: Covi. ~ L and still considers
it _nececosary to ?ra:~11 to ` '..`' fallowing.
First; She propo c,,,t o!" t^'`a k.i' !1 that W ppr opriate states
place a small part of at; r rl - v,%, of ? :;:..s? stock at the
disposal of the International. Cram to be for peaceful needs,
c a n n o t assist in the = i ~ .es*1 . ~r~ of the n : h s t r3?: forth in t h e afore-
mentioned address of ti-:': Pa,~,; . ~3~wxt o the USA Py such an
allocation of a sap.?.ll rn ?::. of thG atom is r. to 31 for peaceful
needs.-the principci r r,.i3 s o l' i; h^ ~?:~ ? o ~~~~t s .a 3 s will go, as before,,
for the production of r.ej ator1"c a -.1d hydrog n bombs, which means a
further accumulation of etc= .c a-,=.z icn lid she.} possibility of creating
now types of this weapon of mor d itru a ~ fares. Such a situation
means that the states which have Vic opp-ai-t4u .ii y to produce atomic
and hydrogen weapons will not ; b ; ''~ ? inc'cl at all in the, further'
Increase of stocks of this weapon.
The a]1ocatic : of a small po rt:Lon of tondo materials out
of the stocks in a s' _ ce to be utilized for peaceful needs may only
create the appearance that the quanti.t?y of atc ie materials allocated_
for the production of attic and by?droge i wee.pons is being decreased'.
But, in reality that is not the case at all. The production of atomic
materials in a nu=nhor of co?ratx?iea has been with each year so
fast that the: a3Zocatio. :?. of a cop aiii pc ~-t. for peaceful needs will
by no means reduce the qi' n city- cf the newly produced atomic and
hydrogen bom'os. Consogt nt1y, r 'n. in case the UI prc?osal should
be carried out, it would bo Ian;. risible to vay' that the atomic armament
race is being stopped, as wtus aid in the st?;.c a rent of the President
of the USA of December 8.
The level of science and technique which has been reached at the
present time makes it possible for the very e. pplicetion, of atomic
energy for peaceful purposes to be ubilizsd for increasing the pro-
duction of atomic weapons.
It is well known that it Is practically feasible to carry out
on an industrial scale a process of obtaining electrical power...- for
peaceful needs by utilizing atonic materials, in which the?quantity
of the f1mlonctU ata?:ie mateerials applied in the process not only
fails to- decrease but, on the contraiy, increases. And the barmleae
atomic materials are converted Into explosive and fo i e materials
which are the basis for the production of atorjic and hydrogen weapons.
In other words, the fact that the peaceful application of atomic
energy is connected with the possibility of rimultaneous production
of atomic materials utilized for the manufacture of the atomic weapon
is indisputable and has been prove3 in practice. Such a situation
not only
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not only fails to lead to a rod ot:i of twhc ;toroks of atomic
materials utilized for t??r~ %-tio of wespo4 s, but also
leads to an increase of h a r toc cz c_rty limitations being
applied either to the production of these.
materials in i 3ivith I : t ?tr,ol. or to proit .etior. by the International
Agency itself.
Consequently, the rirop o ? of the pSA. ccr.cer ning the a1iocatian ..
of a certain portion of atomic material's to bE- utilized for peaceful
purposes not only -fails to stop the aatof i o ar_ ent race but leads
to its further intensification.
Second: The US prcpcsal of December 83, F.a3 tvfall as the 'USA
r4emorat fluid of March 719, coni 1etoZ.. r evades the problem of thein?.
admissibility of the u,-,,e of a .to-etc weapons, eti ich are weapons of mass
deg truQti c a o
The acceptance of Prooldcnt El senhctyo:c : s proposal would by no
means restrict the agg e oor in utilizing atomic weapons for any
purpose and at any tia and consequently would. not diminish at all
the danger of a war with the u;e of atomic and hydrogen weapons.
Thus., the acceptance of the a rove -m niticr ed proposal of the USA
would not introduce any change into the exsting situation, when,
states which have at their disposal at?>mic materials and appropriate
manufacturing and technical possibilities for the production of
atomic weapons produce them on an increasi Gale and accumulate
stocky of atomic and hydrogen bombs of more and more destructive
power. Besides, all this takes place under ccnditions of complete
absence of any internatiore.1 agreement whatsoever which binds states
in the application of atomic and hydrogen weapons.
However, it cannot be denied that recently there has been
widespread uneasiness in many countries in cornection with the its
crease in the destructive power of the atomic weapon and especially
in view of the appearance of the hydrogon weapon. It would be wrong
not to consider these well-lcmrn facts and the ever-increasingly
insistent demands not to permit the use of the atomic and the hydrogen
weapon in warfare.
All this justifies the conclusion that neither the US proposal
of December 8 nor the US Memorandum of March 19 meets the basic
purpose - elimination of the threat of atomic war.
In its statement of December 21 the Soviet Government pointed out
that if the Government of the USA, as well as the Government of the
USSR, is striving to reduce international tension and strengthen peace,
then the efforts of both governments should be directed toward
concluding an allcement for prohibiting the atomic weapon and toward
establishing
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establishing a suitable: end off ~.st ve h iternstional control over this
prohibition. With such an pr