The following impressions of this week's private talks on
disarmament are submitted for what they are worth.

1. Disarmament resolution developed in Assembly from political
contest and implementation is also part of political contest.

2. The United States has been less explicit than usual either in
discussions or in private conversation regarding their objective,
but my impression is that for the time being, they are less
interested in Security Council action to carry out Assembly
recommendations than in obtaining a clear over-all picture of
future relations with the Soviet and there may be some undisclosed
reason why, at this moment, they are exceptionally suspicious of
Russian intentions. One straw in the wind is current allegations
before Congress committees and in press regarding Communist spy
plots.

3. Marshall's press statement emphasising that
(a) collective security
(b) atomic energy control with effective safeguards and
(c) conclusion of peace settlement must precede disarmament is
completely confirmed by line taken by Austin throughout
disarmament talks.

4. One possibility is that the United States may be planning for a
show-down at Moscow [1] talks and I personally doubt whether there
will be any real progress either in the Atomic Energy Commission,
or in general disarmament until there has been a show-down.

5. The Soviet appears equally unwilling to move until they have
deprived United States of present advantage of possessing atomic
bomb. Great number of Soviet actions, both during the Assembly and
since, could be explained as serving that objective, partly
because of old resentment at lack of confidence in them and partly
because, relying so much on power themselves, they feel at a
disadvantage arguing against greater power.

6. Private talks held under Australian initiative succeeded in as
much as five differing resolutions were reduced to single
resolution containing only one point of dissension. Doubtless it
would be possible to obtain majority of Council for resolution,
but even so, it is unlikely we would see much progress either in
Atomic Energy Commission or new Disarmament Commission [2], until
Soviet-American issues have been settled. Major question for
Australia is whether we can do anything more to help or compel
them to come together.

7. United Kingdom did not participate in the private talks, but I
kept closely in touch with Cadogan throughout informing him of the
progress. British were instructed to support original Australian
resolution with minor modifications and I understand they find new
resolution acceptable.