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

528. Memorandum for the File by Herter¹

Washington, February 11, 1960

SUBJECT

• Disarmament

The Secretary accompanied by Mr. Farley had lunch February 11 with Secretary Gates who was accompanied by Mr. Douglas and Mr. Irwin.

Nuclear Test Detection Improvements

The Secretary said that Dr. Kistiakowsky had reported to him on the planning underway for improving seismic and high altitude detection instruments and techniques. A good deal of work is now being undertaken by Defense and AEC; Mr. Herter expressed appreciation in particular for the study which Defense is supporting on the unmanned auxiliary seismic stations. It appears however that some more money may be needed this fiscal year. In addition sizeable amounts of the order of 40 or 50 million dollars might be needed in FY 1961 particularly if development of satellite detection systems is to go ahead. Mr. Herter remarked that he was somewhat skeptical of the desirability of putting this amount of money in satellite detection methods in view of the unlikelihood of outer space testing; Mr. Douglas expressed agreement. Mr. Herter said that he expected a further report from Dr. Kistiakowsky, after which consultation might be necessary regarding possible sources of additional funds.

Mr. Gates said that Defense wanted to be helpful and could possibly find 1 to 2 million dollars more if needed. Larger amounts however would have to be released by the Bureau of the Budget.

Nuclear Cut-Off

Mr. Herter said that the policy decisions on such major elements of our disarmament position as the nuclear cut-off would have to be made very soon in view of the approach of the March Ten-Nation Disarmament Talks and the fact that we are already consulting with our allies. We need to know whether we will propose the cut-off and if it is not in our interests any longer then we need to have persuasive reasons why it cannot be advanced. He went on to say that he hoped it would be possible to continue to propose the cut-off and in addition to challenge the Russians to match us in contributing a large number of megatons from existing stockpiles to international custody (perhaps the custody of the International Atomic Energy Agency), along the lines suggested by former AEC Commissioner Murray. Mr. Herter said that the information he had been given regarding our stockpile and the Soviet stockpile indicated that we could advantageously make such proposals. That would be the kind of dramatic move that would be highly effective. He had little expectation that the Soviet Union would go along with such proposals but if they were acceptable from the military point of view then he saw every advantage to putting them forward.

Mr. Gates and Mr. Douglas raised questions regarding the propaganda impact in view of the fact that it would presumably be well known that whatever megatonnage we proposed to contribute to international custody would be only a fraction of our stockpile and would still leave a tremendous destructive capability. They also questioned whether we could make such an initial proposal without being drawn into rapid nuclear disarmament which would leave us defenseless.

Further discussion dealt largely with tactical weapons requirements, in which both Secretary Herter and Mr. Douglas expressed real skepticism in regard to the proliferation of weapons, as indicated in the projection to 1968 given by General Loper in his briefing. Returning to the matter of a possible cut-off proposal on the production of fissionable material, Secretary Gates stated that the matter was before the Joint Chiefs and he was hurrying their report as much as possible.

C.A.H.

1. Source: Record of discussion among Herter, Farley, Gates, Douglas, and Irwin on test detection improvements, cut-off in production of fissionable material. Secret. 2 pp. NARA, RG 59, Central Files, 600.0012/2–1160.