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

255. Memorandum of Discussion at the 448th NSC Meeting¹

Washington, June 22, 1960

SUBJECT

• Discussion at the 448th Meeting of the National Security Council, Wednesday, June 22, 1960

Present at the 448th NSC Meeting were the Vice President of the United States, presiding; the Secretary of State; the Secretary of Defense; and the Director, Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. Also present at the meeting and participating in the Council actions below were the Secretary of the Treasury; the Director, Bureau of the Budget; the Acting Attorney General (Walsh) (Items 1 & 2); and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (Items 1 & 2). Also attending the meeting were the Acting Director of Central Intelligence (Cabell); General Thomas D. White for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Director, U.S. Information Agency; the Under Secretary of State; the Special Assistants to the President for National Security Affairs and for Security Operations Coordination; Assistant Secretary of State Gerard C. Smith; Assistant Secretaries of Defense John N. Irwin, II and Charles C. Finucane; Charles Haskins, NSC; the Executive Secretary, NSC; and the Deputy Executive Secretary, NSC.

There follows a summary of the discussion at the meeting and the main points taken.

1. U.S. POLICY ON CONTINENTAL DEFENSE: PORT SECURITY

(NSC Actions Nos. 1862–g, 2051 and 2075; NSC 5802/1, paragraph 19; Memo for NSC from Acting Executive Secretary, same subject, dated May 16, 1960; Memos for NSC from Executive Secretary, same subject, dated June 15 and 21, 1960)

Mr. Gray recalled that members of the Council had recently concurred by Memorandum Action in a revised Port Security paragraph (Paragraph 19; transmitted by the reference memorandum of May 16, 1960), proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury for inclusion in U.S. Policy on Continental Defense (NSC 5802/1). Mr. Gray said he had subsequently discussed the revised paragraph, as well as the revised port security program developed by the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out the new policy paragraph, with the President in a meeting also attended by Secretaries Herter, Anderson and Gates. The President approved the revised Paragraph 19 of NSC 5802/1, rescinded the port security program which he had approved on April 21, 1958, and authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to place in effect such port security programs as are necessary and appropriate to implement the revised policy, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Attorney General, and the Director of Central Intelligence (keeping the Interdepartmental Intelligence Conference and the Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security informed). In discussing the revised port security program, the President had indicated his desire that occasional boarding and searching of Sino-Soviet Bloc vessels before their entry into U.S. ports should be continued. Mr. Gray said the subject was placed on the agenda of this Council meeting in order that the Council may note the action taken by the President, as reflected in the draft NSC Action transmitted by the reference memorandum of June 15, 1960. Mr. Gray said that the Secretary of the Treasury might at this time wish to make some remarks regarding the implementation of the new port security program and that the Council might wish to note these remarks.

Secretary Anderson said he had very little to add to Mr. Gray’s introduction of the subject. He would be agreeable to having the record of the meeting show that the new port security program would include provision for occasional boarding and searching of Sino-Soviet Bloc vessels prior to their entry into port. He would also be agreeable to having the record show that the new port security program would be put into effect in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Attorney General, and the Director of Central Intelligence and that he would consult with other interested departments, agencies, and committees prior to making any modifications in the program.

Mr. McCone asked whether he was correct in understanding that all Sino-Soviet Bloc vessels would be inspected after their entry into port, while only occasional inspections would be made at the barrier to the port. Secretary Anderson said Mr. McCone’s understanding was correct.

Mr. Gray pointed out that the Joint Chiefs of Staff had formulated views, in which the Secretary of Defense had concurred, which were consistent with the provision for occasional boarding and searching of Sino-Soviet Bloc vessels prior to their entry into port. The Joint Chiefs of Staff had indicated that if inspections prior to entry are suspended, thorough and effective inspections after entry must be made. In concurring in the cautionary comments by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense had recommended that they be brought to the attention of those responsible for implementing port security policy. Mr. Gray understood that the Joint Chiefs of Staff want their views to be on record. He asked whether General White wished to add anything. General White called attention to the fact that the Joint Chiefs has also stated that “continuing emphasis must be given to developing improved techniques for detection of nuclear devices in ships, in ships cargoes, released on harbor bottoms and in channels.”

Secretary Gates recalled that at the meeting with the President, referred to by Mr. Gray, the President had indicated that the details of the port security program were not a matter for adoption by the NSC. Mr. Gray agreed that the President had not wished to give his specific approval to the revised port security program but had approved only the general guidelines under which the program would operate, i.e., the revised Paragraph 19 of NSC 5802/1.

The National Security Council:

a. Noted the approval by the President on June 11, 1960, of the revised paragraph 19 of NSC 5802/1 transmitted by the reference memorandum of May 16, 1960, following concurrence therein by Memorandum Action by the other members of the National Security Council, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Director, Bureau of the Budget, and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission.

b. Noted the President’s rescission as of June 11, 1960, of the Port Security Programs approved by him on April 21, 1958, and his authorization to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Director of Central Intelligence (keeping the Interdepartmental Intelligence Conference and the Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security informed), to put into effect such Port Security Programs as may be necessary and appropriate to implement the revised paragraph 19 of NSC 5802/1.

c. Noted that the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to b above, would:

(1) Put into effect, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Attorney General, and the Director of Central Intelligence, the Port Security Program contained in the enclosure to the reference memorandum of May 16, 1960, including provision for occasional boarding and searching of vessels prior to entry into port.

(2) Consult with the other interested departments, agencies and committees referred to in b above prior to making any modification in that Program.

d. Noted that the comments of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff with regard to the revision of paragraph 19 of NSC 5802/1 (transmitted by the reference memorandum of June 21, 1960) were being referred to those responsible for implementing the policy set forth in the revised paragraph 19.

NOTE:The above action, as approved by the President, subsequently transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury for appropriate action.

[Omitted here is the remainder of the memorandum.]

Marion W. Boggs

1. Source: Agenda item 1: U.S. Policy on Continental Defense: Port Security. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Extracts—5 pp. Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records.