Acheson–Lilienthal Report facts for kids

The Acheson–Lilienthal Report was an important American document written in 1946. It was created by a group led by Dean Acheson and David Lilienthal. This report suggested that nuclear weapons should be controlled by an international group. The main goal was to prevent future nuclear wars. A similar plan, called the Baruch Plan, was later rejected by the Soviet Union at the United Nations.

Why Control Nuclear Weapons?

After World War II, people in the United States had different ideas about nuclear weapons.

Two Main Ideas

• One idea, supported by Henry Stimson, was that the secrets of the atomic bomb couldn't be kept forever. They believed that if the US kept the bomb and told the Soviet Union not to make one, it would just make the Soviets want to build their own. This would create an imbalance of power.
• The other idea, supported by James F. Byrnes, was that the US had earned its atomic weapon advantage. They felt the Soviet Union only understood power. So, the US should keep its nuclear weapons.

President Truman's Decision

President Harry S. Truman was unsure which path to take. He didn't trust the Soviet Union. However, he also didn't want the world to face destruction. He listened to ideas from both sides.

After Stimson left his role, Dean Acheson took over promoting the idea of sharing atomic secrets.

Creating a Plan

In 1945, both the US and the Soviets agreed to let the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission handle atomic energy control. But the US didn't have a clear plan for this commission. To solve this, Acheson was asked to lead a committee. This group, formed on January 7, 1946, would decide the US policy on atomic energy.

Other members of this committee included scientists James Conant and Vannevar Bush. Bush was in charge of the Manhattan Project, which built the atomic bomb. John McCloy and General Leslie R. Groves, who led the military side of the Manhattan Project, were also members.

Acheson felt the committee needed scientific advice. So, he formed a group of experts. David Lilienthal, who was known for leading the Tennessee Valley Authority, became the chairman of this group. J. Robert Oppenheimer, a key scientist from the Manhattan Project, also gave important advice. Oppenheimer suggested an idea to track uranium from mines to control atomic weapon production.

What the Report Said

On March 16, 1946, the committee presented its report to the State Department. It was made public on March 28. This Report on the International Control of Atomic Energy quickly became known as the Acheson–Lilienthal Report.

Main Idea of the Report

The report's main message was that simply inspecting and policing atomic energy wouldn't work. Instead, it suggested that all "fissile material" (the special stuff used to make atomic bombs) should be owned by an international group. This group would be called the Atomic Development Authority. It would give small amounts of this material to countries only for peaceful uses of atomic energy.

At the time, people thought the hardest part of making an atomic bomb was getting enough fissile material. So, the Acheson–Lilienthal Report proposed that everything, from uranium and thorium mines to the final product, should be controlled internationally.

Why the Plan Failed

The report also suggested that the United States should give up its atomic weapon monopoly. This meant sharing what it knew with the Soviet Union. In return, both sides would agree not to develop more atomic bombs. This idea was very controversial.

President Truman generally accepted the report. However, he chose Bernard Baruch to present the plan to the United Nations. Baruch added new demands. He wanted punishments for violations that couldn't be blocked by the United Nations Security Council. He also wanted unlimited inspections inside the USSR. At the same time, he still insisted the USSR should agree not to build the bomb.

Acheson and Lilienthal did not agree with these changes. Also, the US wanted to keep its bombs until it was sure international control was working. These changes, along with the US stance, led the Soviet Union to reject the plan.

Authors

The main consultants for the project were Chester Barnard, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Charles A. Thomas, Harry A. Winne, and David E. Lilienthal. The official authors, who had worked on the Manhattan Project and were top US scientists, included Luis Walter Alvarez, Robert F. Bacher, Manson Benedict, Hans Bethe, Arthur Compton, Farrington Daniels, J. Robert Oppenheimer, John R. Ruhoff, G. T. Seaborg, Frank Spedding, Charles A. Thomas, and Walter Zinn.