Page 44 from FO 371 110691 - Atomic Energy

The document is a letter discussing a leak of information to the press regarding President Eisenhower's proposals. The author expresses dismay and takes responsibility for the leak, explaining that he provided background information to a journalist, Herbert Brandon, in an attempt to guide him on the right lines. The author emphasizes that the ideas shared were tentative and had not been considered above the working level.

The author mentions that the leak may not be particularly serious and explains the unique relationship with the press, where they rely on them for information about US governmental activities and theories. The author admits to occasionally sharing information in confidence with journalists to gain insight from them. However, in this case, there was a misunderstanding, and the journalist thought he could print the gist of the conversation. The author expresses regret for the misunderstanding and rebukes the journalist for the leak.

The author hopes that the incident does not cause any serious embarrassment and assures the recipient that he has reprimanded the journalist. He also speculates that the journalist's efforts to make amends may lead to acquiring more valuable information. Overall, the letter acknowledges the leak, takes responsibility, and addresses the potential consequences of the incident.