310. Record of Telephone Conversation Between Eisenhower and John Foster Dulles1
The Sec. said one of the questions he may get at his press conference was would we be willing to have technical studies about inspection required for a suspension of testing without also having technical studies of the cut-off supervision? The President said this was not an easy one. The Pres. said we had tried hopefully to put something in our reply. The Sec. read this portion from the letter to Khrushchev. The Pres. said the Sec. could say we would be quite ready to participate in any study—that is technically to find out what can be done. This would bring about a closer understanding and better knowledge. The Pres. said to say we are always ready to study the technical thing. The Sec. said he would try to duck it a little. If we started supervision and control in any field, that is a step forward. The Pres. said that was what he was trying to say.
The President mentioned they might jump him on the word “appreciable”. He said it doesn’t mean “material” but “unnoticeable”. They discussed the definition of the word.
The Pres. said he could not let McElroy go to NATO because of the hearings the Pres. had coming up. If Kilday would agree to a [Typeset Page 1320] postponement, that would be all right. The Secretary said it was not vital that McElroy go to the NATO meeting. There would be no decision taken at the mtg.
- Source: Possible press questions on suspension of nuclear testing. No classification marking. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations.↩