1950s: The Development and Diplomatic Relations of Nuclear Weapons from 1945 to 1990

1950s

On January 31, 1950, President Truman directed the Atomic Energy Commission to “continue its work on all forms of atomic weapons, including the hydrogen, or super-bombs”, in order for the US to be able “to defend itself against any possible aggressor.” With this statement, it is evident that fear was already playing a role in the development of nuclear weapons. In mid 1952, the British conducted their first nuclear test near the Monte Bello Islands, off the coast of Australia, and their first thermonuclear test in early 1957. By mid-to-late 1952, the US had already developed a thermonuclear device, with which they had successful tests. Not far behind the US was the USSR, which tested its first thermonuclear device less than nine months after its rival, and detonated the world’s first air-dropped thermonuclear device in November of 1955. With so much testing of thermonuclear and nuclear devices taking place, the US proposed that its Atoms for Peace plan be ratified immediately, which called for the creation of an international atomic energy agency, which “would receive contributions from nations with nuclear material stockpiles, and utilize them for peaceful purposes” (Mendelsohn, Grahame, 61). The IAEA was eventually established in July of 1957. Donald Brennan asserts that: “The major point of controversy concerning our present and future strategic nuclear forces is whether the US should adopt a position of approximate equality with the USSR, or whether we should continue to maintain a considerable margin of superiority in such forces” (Brennan, Donald G., Arms Control, Disarmament, and National Security, 28).

By 1957, nuclear weapons were making a significant presence in the world, with NATO making them its chief means of defensive military action: “Nuclear weaponry has become a part of Western Culture; the decades post-WWII can be termed the atomic age” (Wikipedia, “Nuclear Weapon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon). The beginning of 1958 brought with it a petition to stop nuclear testing immediately by all nations, signed by 9,235 scientists. Such a strong argument prompted the beginning of the CTBT negotiations between the US, UK, and USSR. All parties agree to a moratorium, which is to last for 1 year, but most likely longer, should the participating parties choose to extend it. In the last month of 1959, 12 nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, banning the detonation of nuclear weapons on, and military use of, the continent. This created the first ever Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zone.

Works Cited
Andrews, Elaine K. Civil Defense in the Nuclear Age. Franklin Watts: New York. 1985.
Brennan, Donald G. Arms Control, Disarmament, and National Security. George Braziller: New York. 1961.
“Foreign Missile Developments and the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States through 2015.” National Intelligence Council. Sep. 1999. 29 Mar 2004 .
Garwin, Richard L. “Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century: Prospects and Policy.” 23 Oct. 1999 – 25 Oct. 1999. 29 Mar. 2004 .
Mendelsohn, Jack, and Grahame, David. Arms Control Chronology. The Center for Defense Information: Washington D.C. 2002.
“Nuclear Weapon.” Wikipedia. Nov. 2000 – 29 Mar. 2004. 29 Mar. 2004 .
“Nuclear Energy.” Harper’s Magazine. April 2004. 29 Mar. 2004 .