September 5, 1952
Mr. Allen Dulles called on the Secretary on September 2 to discuss arrangements for a report by the Panel of Consultants on disarmament. Dulles told the Secretary that Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and Mr. John Dickey of the Panel would like to see the Secretary this week.
Mr. Dulles indicated that he understood Messrs. Oppenheimer and Dickey desired to talk over with the Secretary, in general:
1. What is the wise thing for the Panel to do
2. Should the Panel make a report? (The concern in this connection was that there would be a leak, and that someone like the Alsops would keep prying until the report had been compromised.
3. Should the Panel terminate its work until the advent of the new Administration or should it continue? (The Panel thought it needed advice on this question.)
Dulles emphasized that for this preliminary discussion the two Panel members wanted to talk to the Secretary alone. The Secretary said he would receive them because they had asked to see him and suggested that they come to the farm on Saturday for lunch. He said he would read any paper which they might present but would not keep it overnight in the country and that it should be made clear to them that they would have to return it for appropriate safekeeping in the city or else present it to him sometime when he was in the office.
Dulles indicated that after these two have talked with the Secretary, they will talk with appropriate people and bureaus in the Department.
The Secretary has informed me that on Friday, September 5, he would like to talk with Messrs. Nitze, Arneson and Ferguson regarding why a standstill at this juncture would not be good.
The Secretary would also like to receive a paper or speak with someone from UNA on Friday regarding our line and thoughts regarding the work of the Panel. In particular, attention should be paid to the question of whether we may not wish to receive a written report but would rather have an oral report.
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