71 



As to Baruch's role in the policymaking process, the negotiator's own 

 view of the part he should play, as well as that of his advisors, would 

 have a substantial influence on the shape of U.S. policy, and on the 

 course of the negotiations. He resented the fact that the Acheson- 

 Lilienthal report had been published, lest it be regarded as a statement 

 of U.S. policy, thus placing him in the role of a mere "messenger boy." 

 Only after consultations with the President and Byrnes was Baruch 

 satisfied that his personal views on atomic energy control would be 

 considered, although later accounts by Truman and Baruch differ re- 

 garding their perceptions of the extent of Baruch's powers at that 

 time. 27 



Although Baruch had asked Acheson's committee and its Board of 

 Consultants to remain at his disposal during the negotiations, this ar- 

 rangement did not materialize. Some meetings were held between 

 Baruch's delegation and the two groups. These encounters provided 

 the forum for expression of a variety of views on U.S. policy but not 

 on a sustained basis. 



Abortive Efforts in the United Nations Toward Control 



On June 14, 1946, the end product of these meetings, and of discus- 

 sions within the Administration, was enunciated by Baruch at the op- 

 ening session of the UNAEC. The views of both the military services 

 and the Congress had been considered, and some of the basic ingredi- 

 ents of the Acheson-Lilienthal report had been retained ; other impor- . 

 taut characteristics had originated with Baruch and his deputies. 



THE U.S. PROPOSAL 



In Baruch's speech to the opening session of the UNAEC, he noted 

 that his proposal was made as a basis for discussion, although it 

 eventually came to be regarded as a rather firm statement of the 

 U.S. position. Baruch proposed that an International Control Au- 

 thority be established "to which should be entrusted all phases of the 

 development and use of atomic energy." It would control or own all 

 atomic energy activities potentially dangerous to world security, and 

 would control, license, and inspect all others. Its functions would in- 

 clude fostering the beneficial uses of atomic energy, and conducting 

 research and development in the field, in order to remain at the fore- 

 front of potential new developments. Once the Authority was estab- 

 lished, all bomb manufacturing would be halted and existing bombs 

 destroyed, and the Authority would possess all the information as- 

 sociated with atomic energy. This proposal marked the first time that 

 diplomats had sought to establish a worldwide system of control and 

 use of a scientific discovery. 



An important point which was included, and a major contribution 

 of Baruch, concerned the issue of enforcement of the arrangement for 

 international control. Because of the serious nature of atomic energy 

 questions, Baruch expressed the view that any countries which pur- 

 sued activities that ran counter to or usurped those of the Authority 

 should be subject to punishments. Specific violations were listed, such 

 as possession or manufacture of an atomic weapon. Moreover, in order 

 to ensure that violators would be punished, Baruch proposed that the 



27 Hewlett and Anderson, History of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, 

 pp. 557-560. 



