Pages 58-59 from Truman. Papers of Harry S Truman. President's Secretary's Files. Box 174-4

This is a letter written by Philip Fleming, Secretary of Federal Works Agency, to the President in response to a request for their views on the atomic bomb and the development of atomic energy. The writer believes that atomic energy will have various industrial applications and that its potential as a power source will soon be common knowledge. They argue that keeping the atomic bomb a secret from other nations, particularly the Soviet Union, would be futile as the basic knowledge is already widespread among scientists worldwide. They suggest that denying access to the atomic bomb may only prevent war for a limited time. Instead, they propose sharing the atomic bomb secret with the Soviet Union in exchange for a mutually beneficial exchange of scientific knowledge. Alternatively, they suggest that the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union could jointly guarantee world peace by keeping the secret and providing each other with atomic bombs if any ally is attacked or in danger. The writer emphasizes the importance of fostering lasting peace and friendship with other nations.