371. Letter From Strauss to Eisenhower1
The letter from Prime Minister Macmillan is returned herewith.
Where he mentions the “two problems” of “invulnerability” and “reduction of weight”, I believe he means, in the first instance, weapons that are safe from pre-initiation. In the second instance, I assume he refers to weapons of large yield where we have succeeded in reducing both size and weight. In both circumstances, the present law does permit the transfer of such information as does the present bilateral agreement which became effective on the 3rd of this month. It is not necessary to amend the bilateral to provide for the exchange of further weapons information but, in each case, it will be necessary that we make a finding that the exchange is needed and “will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security”.
However, you should be aware that when the Department of Defense and the Commission witnesses testified before the Congressional Committee, they indicated that it was not contemplated that the most sensitive design information would be transferred in the initial exchanges but later when need could be demonstrated and information provided to you that such transfer “would promote and not constitute an unreasonable risk… etc.”.
Respectfully,
- Source: Assures Eisenhower U.S. can provide nuclear information sought by Macmillan. Secret. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Administration Series, Strauss, Adm. Lewis.↩