170. Note From Lay to the NSC1
[Facsimile Page 1]
NOTE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
to the
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
on
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS GROUP
REFERENCES
- A. NSC Actions Nos. 1833 and
1909
- B. NSC 5815
The President, on the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense, has
this date approved the addition of the Deputy Secretary of Defense to
the membership of the Comparative Evaluations Group established in
accordance with NSC 5815.
Accordingly the enclosed directive, incorporating the above amendment to
NSC 5815 approved this date by the
President, is circulated herewith for the information of the National
Security Council and for implementation by all appropriate Executive
departments and agencies of the U.S. Government.
The enclosed directive is being given special limited
distribution, and the contents should be subject to special security
precautions, with access thereto limited to those individuals having
a strict “need to know” in the performance of their official
duties.
James S. Lay,
Jr.
Executive Secretary
cc: The Secretary of the Treasury
The Director, Bureau of the Budget
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Chairman, President’s Board of Consultants on Foreign
Intelligence Activities
The Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology
[Typeset Page 762]
Enclosure
National Security Council Directive 5908
NSC
5908
Washington,
July 1,
1959
[Facsimile Page 2]
DIRECTIVE
on
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS GROUP
1. There is hereby established under the National Security Council,
pursuant to the provisions of Section 101 of the National Security
Act, a Comparative Evaluations Group responsible for the preparation
of comparative evaluations of U.S. and Soviet capabilities in
selected weapons systems.
2. The Comparative Evaluations Group shall consist of the Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff, who shall serve as Chairman of the Group; the
Under Secretary of State; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the
Director of Central Intelligence; the Chairman of the President’s
Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities; the
President’s Special Assistant for Science and Technology; and the
President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs.
3. The secretariat services for the Group shall be performed by the
NSC Representative on Internal
Security.
4. The Comparative Evaluations Group shall meet at regular intervals,
and not less than every three months.
5. The functions of the Comparative Evaluations Group shall include:
- a.
- Recommending to the President suitable topics in the field
of weapons systems for comparative evaluations of U.S. and
Soviet capabilities.
- b.
- Determining the scope of each of the studies approved by
the President.
- c.
- Determining the procedures to be followed in connection
with such studies, including the time limit within which the
studies are to be completed and submitted to the
President.
6. Oral presentation of such comparative evaluations to the National
Security Council or other groups shall be as determined by the
President.
7. In view of the sensitive nature of the materials to be included in
studies made by the Group, special security precautions shall be
applied thereto. Distribution of the studies prepared by the Group
shall be limited to two copies—one to be maintained in the files of
the National Security Council, the other in the files of the
Chairman of the Group.