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

50. Letter from Cutler to McElroy.¹

Washington, May 5, 1958

Dear Neil:

The President has just approved the Record of Action of the Meeting of the National Security Council for May 1, relative to NSC 5810—the revision of Basic National Security Policy—and it is being transmitted to you formally. In addition, I thought it might be useful for me informally to summarize the points made by the President at the NSC Meeting which affect the Department of Defense (the following statement of which he has checked):

(1) He doubted the validity of the concept that “mutual deterrence” provides an umbrella under which “small wars” could be waged in areas such as NATO without expanding into general nuclear war. Accordingly, he thought this concept required further study.

(2) He asked for further study and debate on the view that it would be possible to withhold involving our massive nuclear retaliatory capability in the event that the Soviet Union attacked in the NATO area.

(3) He thought there were various alternative courses of action, if we were to strengthen our forces and our capabilities for limited war. One alternative might be at the expense of our nuclear deterrent capability. If such an alternative were adopted, we would need a detailed accounting by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as to precisely what would constitute a satisfactory deterrent. Another alternative could involve a massive increase in resources allocated to defense. If such a course were adopted, it would be necessary to study what methods might be found to maintain much greater forces, without resorting to a controlled society or becoming a garrison state.

(4) He thought there should be provided to the National Security Council more definitive information as to the exact size of the deterrent forces which the U.S. requires in this calendar year and will require over the next two or three calendar years.

As you will see from the Record of Action, we have included in NSC 5810/1 the exact language for pars. 13 and 14 of the existing basic policy (NSC 5707/8) without change.

You will note in the approved Record of Action that the President revised the June 2 date for receiving from the Department of Defense (perhaps in the form of a limited-distribution-supplement) recommendations for any revision of the military strategy outlined in NSC 5810/1, after Defense shall have given further consideration in the light of the Council discussion at the May 1 Meeting. The President has authorized an extension of this date to June 16, because he wants these important matters brought up for further discussion and final approval, while the significant issues raised are still fresh in our minds, without there being requested any further postponement.

Accordingly, he has approved a Council Meeting on June 26 to hear the Defense recommendation. This schedule will permit advance circulation of the Defense recommendation due June 16 (on such limited basis as may be deemed necessary) to Council Members, in plenty of time to be fully prepared for the Council Meeting on June 26.

It would obviously be very desirable to receive the joint study on limited war capabilities pursuant to NSC Action No. 1881 on or before June 16, so that its consideration could be coordinated with the above Defense recommendations.

Sincerely yours,

Robert Cutler
Special Assistant to the President

cc: The Deputy Secretary of Defense

The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

The Special Assistant to JCS for National Security Council Affairs

Lay

Asst. Sec. of Def (Sprague)

1. Source: President’s comments on NSC 5810. Top Secret. 2 pp. Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs.