600.0012/4–1254
The Secretary of Defense (Wilson) to the Secretary of State1
Dear Foster: I am writing to you relative to the lack of progress made to date by the Special Committee created by NSC Action No. [Page 1384] 899c2 in developing recommendations as to possible new United States courses of action in the field of disarmament in general and the control of atomic energy in particular. Apart from our responsibilities to the National Security Council, recently re-emphasized by NSC Action No. 1035,3 world-wide public sentiment resulting from the recent hydrogen bomb experiments has focused attention more sharply than ever before on the problem of disarmament. I have no doubt that we will now be subject to a variety of pressures in the forthcoming meetings of the Disarmament Commission toward the adoption of a disarmament plan relating to atomic energy alone and lacking proper safeguards.
In view of the foregoing, it is my view that if the United States position of a comprehensive disarmament plan with proper safeguards is to be effectively maintained and expanded, we should have the benefit of a complete review of the problem by all interested agencies. I am sure that you will agree with me that such a study as is required by these circumstances and which the President has had in mind for some time can be most effectively accomplished by utilizing the combined resources of the three interested agencies. Accordingly, in order that the Department of Defense may be in a position to contribute effectively to this task, I have directed the establishment of a special working group headed by Major General Herbert B. Loper, USA (Ret.), formerly Chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, and currently a consultant to my office, to develop the aspects of this problem of primary concern to this Department. I propose that General Loper meet at the earliest opportunity with appropriate representatives of the Department of State and of the Atomic Energy Commission in order that this study may be initiated with a minimum of delay.
Sincerely yours,