Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, Microfiche Supplement, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament

173. Memorandum From Lay to the NSC¹

Washington, July 6, 1959

SUBJECT

• Basic National Security Policy

REFERENCES

• A. NSC 5906
• B. Memo for NSC from Executive Secretary, same subject, dated June 19, 1959

A memorandum from the Acting Secretary, National Aeronautics and Space Council, setting forth comments on paragraph 62 of NSC 5906 provided by certain members of the NASC, were transmitted to the National Security Council by the reference memorandum of June 19, 1959.

The attached memorandum from the Acting Secretary, NASC, containing a summary of the discussion on paragraph 62 of NSC 5906 that took place at the June 29, 1959, informal meeting of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, is transmitted herewith for the information of the National Security Council in connection with its further consideration of NSC 5906.

James S. Lay, Jr.
Executive Secretary

cc: The Secretary of the Treasury

The Attorney General

The Secretary of Commerce

The Director, Bureau of the Budget

The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

The Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Director of Central Intelligence

The Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers

The Chairman, Council on Foreign Economic Policy

Enclosure

Memorandum From Phillips to Lay

Washington, July 2, 1959

SUBJECT

• Paragraph 62 of the Basic National Security Policy (NSC 5906)

REFERENCE

• Memorandum from NASC Acting Secretary dated 19 June 1959

1. Comments on the subject paragraph provided by certain members of the National Aeronautics and Space Council were forwarded to you with reference memorandum.

2. Following is a summary of the discussion on the subject paragraph that took place at the June 29, 1959 informal meeting of the NASC:

The explanation given as the basis for the Budget and Treasury proposal represented by the bracketed phrase was that it presents a position previously stated by the Department of Defense as noted in the last paragraph, item 6 of the NASC minutes for the April 27, 1959 meeting. There was discussion to the effect that, although this is an accurate statement of Defense position, including it in the policy seems inappropriate. Alternate wording for the phrase was proposed as follows:

(2) A military space program designed to exploit the application of advancing space technology whenever that exploitation will sensibly extend U.S. military capabilities;

It was the consensus that this wording appeared to be a reasonable compromise, and that it should be forwarded to the NSC for their consideration. There was further discussion of the first sentence in the paragraph, in particular the phrase, “to insure that the U.S. is a recognized leader in this field.” It was proposed that the following be substituted for the first sentence:

The U.S. should continue actively and with a sense of urgency to pursue programs to develop and exploit outer space capabilities as needed to insure the attainment of national objectives in scientific, military and political areas. These programs should be designed to secure and maintain for the U.S. a position of supremacy in outer space activities without requiring that the U.S. be the leader in every phase of space exploitation.

Discussion of this point resulted in agreement that the sense of the first sentence of the paragraph as proposed by NSC is that the U.S.should be at least on a par with the USSR, but not necessarily ahead. There was no agreement on re-phrasing this sentence to further clarify this point.

/S/ Franklyn W. Phillips
Acting Secretary

1. Source: Transmits summary of NASC discussion of paragraph 62 of NSC 5906 on military exploitation of space programs. Confidential. 3 pp. NARA, RG 59, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, NSC 5906 Series.