Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Regulation of Armaments; Atomic Energy, Volume XX

286. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President¹

Washington, August 13, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Disarmament

There is attached as Annex A for your approval a revision of paragraph 8 of the June 11 policy paper on disarmament which reflects your decision on August 9, 1957 regarding an extension to 24 months of the nuclear weapons test suspension.²

On the basis of Secretary Dulles’ recent consultations in London and further discussions within the Government, I am also prepared to recommend several additional changes in the June 11 policy directive as follows:

1. With regard to paragraph 7, relating to transfers of nuclear weapons and fissionable materials to other countries, delete the initial phrase “From the effective date of the agreement” and substitute the phrase “From the date of the cessation of production of fissionable material for weapons purposes”. Since the reason for prohibition of transfer of fissionable material between countries is to enforce the cutoff of production of fissionable material for weapons purposes, it seems unnecessary, and undesirable from the standpoint of relations with our principal allies, to prohibit such transfers prior to the cut-off date. I recommend in paragraph 7 (b) the deletion of “peaceful purposes” and substitution of “non-weapons purposes” to make clear that fissionable material could be transferred to other states for such purposes as fuel for submarine propulsion reactors. I would also propose in paragraph 7(b) the insertion of the word “otherwise” to make the obligations assumed with respect to fissionable materials consistent with those applicable to nuclear weapons. The revised paragraph would read:

“Each party agrees not otherwise to transfer out of its control any fissionable material or to accept transfer to it of such material, except for non-weapons purposes”.

2. The formula on use of nuclear weapons in paragraph 4 of the June 11 policy directive is considered by some of the Western delegations as too restrictive. Accordingly, I propose the deletion of paragraph 4 of the June 11 policy directive, except for the parenthetical note at the end, and would substitute the following formula:

“Each party assumes an obligation not to use nuclear weapons if an armed attack has not placed the party in a situation of individual or collective self-defense.”

3. Because of the practical difficulties involved, it is recommended that the proposed Board of Control of the International Control Organ have authority only to study a system for regulating the export and import of armaments rather than to establish such a system. Accordingly, I suggest that paragraph 14 (b) of the June 11 policy directive be amended to read as follows:

“to study a system for regulating the export and import of armaments.”

Deputy Secretary Quarles and Chairman Strauss concur in these recommendations. We will be glad to discuss this matter with you at any time if you so desire.³

Christian A. Herter

Annex A

SUGGESTED REVISION OF PARAGRAPH 8 OF UNITED STATES POSITION ON THE FIRST PHASE OF DISARMAMENT APPROVED JUNE 11, 1957

8. a. The United States will announce that it will exert every effort toward the end that the first stage disarmament agreement can be put into effect by 1 November 1958, and that until the effective date of such an agreement it will continue its nuclear testing program.

b. As a part of the first stage disarmament agreement all parties will agree:

(1) to refrain, as of the effective date of the agreement (estimated as 1 November 1958), from nuclear testing until 12 months thereafter.

(2) to cooperate in setting up during the 12 months period or earlier if mutually agreeable, an effective international inspection arrangement to monitor tests.

(3) to refrain for a further period from nuclear tests if the monitoring system referred to in paragraph 8b (2) is operating to the satisfaction of each party concerned and if progress satisfactory to each party concerned is being achieved in the installation of an inspection system for the cut-off of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes agreed to under paragraph 5b above. Such an extension will be made only with the understanding that testing may at the discretion of each party be resumed 24 months after the effective date of the agreement if the inspection system for the cut-off has not been installed to the satisfaction of each party concerned before the end of the 24 months and if the cut-off has not been put into effect.

(4) if tests are resumed, to give notification in advance of dates and approximate yields of such tests; to provide reciprocal limited access to tests; and to limit the amount of radioactive material to be released into the atmosphere.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Administration Series, Herter. Secret. The source text is initialed “DE” in the President’s handwriting.
2. See Document 282.
3. In a memorandum to the Secretary of State (directed to the attention of Gerard Smith), August 14, Major Eisenhower reported that the President had that day approved all the changes as recommended in the source text. (Eisenhower Library, Staff Secretary Records, Disarmament) These changes were transmitted to Stassen in telegram 1277 to London, August 14. (Department of State, Central Files, 330.13/8–1457)