Office of the Historian

182. Telegram Cahto 159 From Herter in Geneva1

Geneva, July 21, 1959
[Facsimile Page 1]

Cahto 159. For Acting Secretary From the Secretary.

Reference Tocah 162. I endorse the line you proposed in reftel. However there should be further monkeying with the buzz saw at the next NSC meeting or should you in your discretion feel warranted you could convey to NSC following message from me:

[Facsimile Page 2]

QUOTE. Whether proposed changes are considered new policy or clarification of old policy does not strike me as an important distinction. The Council decision being proposed is important, as is evidenced by the unusual amount of top governmental consideration which has been given to it.

My predecessor proposed a change or clarification of our military strategy more than a year ago. He agreed to a continuation of the old language in NSC 5810 on condition that it be immediately subjected to interdepartmental review. It should be recalled that during the 1958 and 1959/NSC discussions the majority of the Joint Chiefs believed that a policy change/clarification was a first importance.

The Department of State submitted to NSC sometime ago a paper on Foreign Policy Requirements to be considered in connection with the development of military strategy. This paper was prepared originally in response to a request by the Department of Defense for foreign policy guidance. My responsibility as Secretary of State will be discharged if the military paragraphs of the basic [Facsimile Page 3] paper meet these foreign policy requirements. The details of force levels and budget division among the military services is not my business. However, I assume that the “clarification” phrase “and the requirement for maintaining balanced forces” would permit the US to have a military capacity to engage to some significant extent in limited hostilities without the necessity for automatic resort to nuclear weapons.

I understand that there has been some suggestion that opinion in the Department of State is divided on the necessity for and the meaning of the proposed change/clarification in policy. I can assure you that the Department of State is unanimous on the above position and speaks with one voice. UNQUOTE.

Herter
  1. Source: Transmits message to NSC on revisions in NSC 5906. Top Secret. 3 pp. NARA, RG 59, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 67 D 548, Military and Naval Policy.↩