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

458. Record of Telephone Conversations Between Herter and Goodpaster and Eisenhower and Herter¹

April 10, 1959

5:30—Gen. Goodpaster telephoned and said he had explained to the President as best he could what position our friend is taking and he is at a loss to understand why they are doing this. The President thinks he is thinking of this additional provision because he anticipates Khrushchev will turn down the President’s proposal. Then, if he does turn it down, evidently due to our friend’s home situation and the election coming up, he does not feel he can let the thing break up. In any event, the President is very concerned about it and does not think they are on sound ground. Goodpaster said the President had questioned whether there was an agreement on the 50 kilometers. CAH said we did agree on that. (2) Goodpaster said the President will be in early tomorrow, around 7:30, and if we have our draft reply ready for his consideration he had told Arch Calhoun to send it over and Goodpaster will make communications arrangements for it. CAH said we hope to have the draft within about half an hour. (3) Discussed Macmillan’s statement that he would be willing to send a brief message. CAH said Macmillan is not reserving the right to veto the thing, merely to talk to us again about it.

5:55—The President telephoned. Said that this statement of Macmillan’s position is different from the previous one, and he doesn’t think we can object too much to this because he says “three powers”. Also doesn’t think our people can object too much if there is no atmospheric pollution. CAH said his understanding is that Macmillan would like to come back and go over the thing again in the event of their being a refusal to agree on the atmospheric. President reiterated he is now of the disposition it would not hurt us too much; looks with favor on the proposal as now laid before us. CAH said we hope to have a draft reply ready shortly; thinks we should say that if they do refuse to do anything on the atmospheric tests, we would consider again Macmillan’s suggestion.

1. Source: Discussion of Macmillan proposal on nuclear testing. No classification marking. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, Phone Calls and Miscellaneous Memos.