https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/3b6d94193fe6901b0210bd225f58b9c9.pdf 694b9d5c22179efdb88c5ddc63c518e3 PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi suri'acces a I'information Minute Shee November 30, 1950. Mr. Icnatieff Attached are the questions on the atom bomb at the President’s press conference today and the subsequent clarifying statement. I was not able to obtain the questions and answers from the White House press office. As you know, there is a rule against quoting the President directly at his conferences and probably for this reason it is not possible for us to obtain access to the White House transcript without cutting through a great deal of red tape. The questions and answers were supplied by the Christian Science Monitor bureau, which unofficially has a stenographer at the conferences. I am sure the C.S.M. would not like the White House to learn that it was making extracts from the trans— cript available® In view of the unusual circumstances, the C.S.M. came to our assistance today® I think its transcript is accuratee v<?' T.P.M.:JB 00570 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi suri’acces a I’information Questions Relating to Atom Bomb at President’s Press Conference. November 30, 1950. s Will action in Manchuria depend on action in the United Nations? Q. Mr. President. A. Yes, entirely. Q In other words, if the United Nations resolution should authorize General McArthur to go further than he has yet, he will? As We will take whatever steps necessary to mxkaxthe meet the military situation just as we always have. Q. Does that include the atom bomb? A. That includes every weapon that we have. Q. You said that means every weapon that we have. active consideration to use the atom bomb? As There always has been active consideration of its use. I don't want to see it used. It is a terrible weapon. It should not be used on innocent men, women and children who have nothing to do with this military aggression. That is what happens when it is used. -- - intervening questions— I wonder if we could retrace that reference to the atom bomb. Did I understand you correctly to say that the use of the atom bomb is under active consideration? Q* Does that mean that there is A* It always has been, Smitty. Q. Does that mean against military installations or civilians? . A. That is a matter for the military people. passes on it. Q, Mr. President. You said this depends on United Nations action. Does that mean we would not use the atom bomb except with United Nations authorization? A. No it doesn't mean that. The action against Communist China depends on the action in the United Nations. The military commander in the field will have charge of weapons as he always does. It is one of our weapons. I am not the military authority that - 30 “ l I I 00571 I �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi surl’acces a /’information Statement by White House Press Secretary following Presidential Press Conference, November 30, 1950. The President wants to make it certain that there is no mis— interpretation of his answers to questions at his press conference today about the use of the atom bomb* Naturally, there has been consideration of this subject since the outbreak of the hostilities in Korea, just as there is consideration of the use of all military weapons whenever our forces are in combat. Consideration of the use of any weapon is always implicit in the very possession of that weapon. However, it should be emphasized that by law only.the President can authorize the use of the atom bomb and no such authorization has been given* If *hax and when such authorization should be given,' the military commander in the field would be in charge of the tactical delivery of the weapon. In brief, the replies to the questions at today’s press conference do not represent any change in this situation. 30 00572 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CDNW (Wiser) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource CDNW16607 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW16607 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wiser Consultations, RG25-B-2, Volume number: 3094, Library and Archives Canada.