456. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Geneva Nuclear Test Negotiations
PARTICIPANTS
- Mr. Herter, Acting Secretary of State
- Mr. Quarles, Deputy Secretary of Defense
- Mr. Irwin, Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA)
- Mr. Farley, S/AE
Mr. Quarles read through the letter of April 4 from the President to Prime Minister Macmillan, enclosing a draft letter to Khrushchev on the Geneva nuclear test negotiations. Mr. Quarles said that, as Mr. Herter and Mr. Farley were aware, he personally had reservations regarding the proposed tactics of suggesting the possibility of a controlled agreement for suspension of atmospheric tests. He thought that our present public posture was excellent and that introducing this modified proposal would enable the Soviet Union to “shift the monkey to our backs” and place the blame for failure to reach a comprehensive test suspension on us. Mr. Herter said that he felt, with increased concern about fallout and the Soviet obstinacy on the veto, the Soviet Union would be placed in a very difficult position if we made this modified proposal.
Mr. Herter summarized for Mr. Quarles his conversation with the President regarding the philosophy of “deterrence” with regard to an adequate control system for a nuclear test suspension.
- Source: Letter to Macmillan; concept of deterrence. Secret; Limited Distribution. 1 p. NARA, RG 59, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199.↩