Office of the Historian

369. Telegram 1969 to London1

Washington, August 20, 1958, 9:22 p.m.
[Facsimile Page 1]

1969. Please deliver immediately to Prime Minister Macmillan the following message from the President:

QUOTE August 20, 1958. Dear Harold:

This cable replies to your first message, the one referring to certain technical matters. Foster is just now leaving for New York and during the trip will give to Selwyn his conclusions on the political side of the matter for immediate cabling to you. His cable will quote our statement as it has been revised, including such important points as timing.

My personal comment about the political side is merely that the week’s experience at the General Assembly clearly shows that much of the world opinion is shifting, if not toward the Soviets, at least away from the West because of our alleged intransigence about all aspects of nuclear testing and so on. I feel that the publication of the report of the technical experts at [Facsimile Page 2] Geneva may mark an opportunity for us to regain some of this world opinion. If we are to do so, I think we cannot wait for some weeks or days during which time Russian propaganda would make it appear that we are being forced into a position that finally might become untenable.

Now with respect to the two questions of reduction of weight and invulnerability, under the law I am permitted to convey to you any information needed so long as that information will not endanger our security. The law requires that I make a certification to this effect. Since our joint purpose is to make certain that the weapons we both manufacture are for use by the free world in our common defense, there will be no difficulty in my making the necessary certificate for this type of exchange. I understand that British and American technicians are having their first meeting on next Wednesday morning, at which time there will be some agreement as to the kinds of information in which both sides wish to delve. Out of that meeting will come to me further suggestions as to the certificates that I need to make.

Incidentally, we do not see how we could establish and stand by a limit of 25 kilos for bomb testing. The findings of tests are not sufficiently exact to make this a feasible condition.

I think this gives you the technical assurance you need.

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I want further to say with respect to the whole matter that we are not trying to push you either politically or technically into an isolated or indefensible position. No matter what the exact language of the statement, which I think we will make no later than Saturday morning, we would hope that you could associate yourselves with it if you so desire. But in any event, we will do our best to make certain that our own action does not embarrass you.

When you have both the messages to which I refer, I hope that you will reply as soon as you can because we do believe we are up against one of those moments that we regard as psychologically correct.

With warm regard,

As ever,

Dwight D. Eisenhower UNQUOTE

  • Herter
    Acting
  1. Source: Conveys message from Eisenhower to Macmillan on providing technical information and political necessity of making statement on cessation of nuclear testing. Secret; Presidential Handling. 3 pp. NARA, RG 59, Central Files, 700.5611/8–2058.↩