600.0012/4–1254
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)1
Dear Mr. Secretary: In Secretary Dulles’ absence I am writing to answer your letter of April 122 regarding the urgent necessity of a complete review of the problems of disarmament, in accordance with NSC Actions 899c and 1035 (SecDefContNo. TS–1160). I thoroughly agree with your view that a comprehensive review of this problem is required immediately, and that it can be most effectively accomplished by utilizing the resources of the Departments of Defense and State and the Atomic Energy Commission.
In line with your suggestions for expediting this effort, representatives of the AEC and of the Department of State met April 14 with your representative, General Loper, and members of his working group in order to initiate this study. I expect that the review will progress rapidly and, indeed, it is necessary that this be done to meet the exigencies with which we are now faced.
I assure you that the Department of State shares your concern that the United States maintain effectively its position that any disarmament program must meet the fundamental test of effective safeguards to ensure the compliance of all nations and to give adequate warning of possible evasions or violations. I am confident that the combined effort of our respective Departments and the Commission will enable us to achieve this goal.
Sincerely,