173. Memorandum From Lay to the NSC1
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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
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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
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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;
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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.
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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
