556. Memorandum of Conference with the President1
OTHER PRESENT
- Dr. Kistiakowsky
- General Persons
- General Goodpaster
Dr. Kistiakowsky said that Chairman McCone, Secretary Herter and Acting Secretary Douglas had asked him to assume the task of preparing a plan for the coordinated conduct of research in the seismic field in connection with nuclear testing. He said that, if the President approved, he would be agreeable to doing so. In response to a question by the President, he said his role would be one of preparing a plan, not conducting operations. On this basis the President approved his doing so.
Dr. Kistiakowsky next said that the concept of giving assurance against clandestine testing through technical monitoring is showing some signs of getting out of hand. The techniques become so elaborate and complex as to be impractical. He thought we must be careful of working ourselves into a position where we are proposing things that cannot practically be carried out. He suggested that an alternative approach might be to concentrate on the fact that the Soviet operate behind an iron curtain; perhaps our efforts should go into breaking that down, and obtaining information through that route.
Dr. Kistiakowsky mentioned that he and Dr. Killian had talked further with Secretary Herter on the subject of an organization within the Executive Branch for arms limitation activities. Mr. Herter agreed that a staff level organization within the State Department is not good enough. The President commented that one virtue of his First Secretary concept is that such an organization could be put directly under him.
Dr. Kistiakowsky next brought up for discussion the question of setting out a definite program for technical research relating to arms limitations. He asked the President what kind of time objectives the President thought should be established. He also asked if this work could be assigned [Facsimile Page 2] high priority by the President. The President thought that study would show that the research effort would fall naturally into distinct steps. The essential point is to give it a high priority, and he approved the assignment of high priority to the project. Dr. Kistiakowsky said that Dr. York believes he can get together two-thirds of the money needed (in the order of $20 million), but would need help on [Typeset Page 2034] getting the last $10 million. The President thought that the planning phase of this activity should not cost very much, and that this might be supported out of his emergency fund. He asked Dr. Kistiakowsky to check with the Bureau of the Budget on the whole matter, however. He stated he would be willing to send up a supplemental to cover what is needed in this field, inasmuch as the need arises on the basis of new, more hopeful developments related to limitation of armaments.
Dr. Kistiakowsky said that there has been discussion within his group and the AEC concerning the continuation of small hydrodynamic nuclear experiments. These do not of course constitute weapons tests. There was some thought that this should be discussed with the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, and that a standby statement should be prepared to explain what these are, in order to avoid any confusion of these with the question of weapons testing. The President expressed great worry about the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, because of its failures to safeguard the security of secret information given to it. He also had great doubts about making a statement to explain this matter. Dr. Kistiakowsky stressed that the statement was intended to be prepared for standby only, and that it would be worked out with all the interested agencies. The President agreed that this experimentation could go ahead. He offered no objection to the secret preparation of a standby statement. Dr. Kistiakowsky then suggested that there might be some reason for the President to discuss with Khrushchev what constitutes a weapons test. The President was very dubious about this.
The next subject raised by Dr. Kistiakowsky was a report on carcinogens in food, including specific reference to the cranberry problem last fall. He said it is an excellent report, which he plans to show to Secretary Flemming and Secretary Benson. The President agreed with his doing so and stated the Administration could then decide whether to release the report. Dr. Kistiakowsky then referred to a related problem of great seriousness which has developed. Analysis of wheat and wheat products shows, in some nine States, a high concentration of radioactive strontium, particularly in the bran. There [Facsimile Page 3] seems to be no immediate hazard to health in this, but the concentrations are within the range that warrants concern. The information is not public as yet, but could be presented in a highly sensational fashion. The President asked about the source of this radioactive strontium, and commented that it really means there should be no more large fission explosions in the atmosphere. Dr. Kistiakowsky said that there are dangers in the situation of large-scale dislocation of the economy, extending over a number of major farming States. The President asked General Persons to give personal attention to shaping up action on this matter.
Dr. Kistiakowsky next reported briefly to the President as to what is done with radioactive wastes, in response to a question some time [Typeset Page 2035] ago by the President. Most is held in huge underground concrete tanks, but is kept for a few years until the radioactivity has greatly declined. The residues are then disposed of in rivers, deep wells, or at sea, in the latter case quite frequently in sealed containers. The President commented about the terrible consequences that have arisen out of the discovery of nuclear fission, endangering the whole future of civilization. He recalled a statement he had made in 1953—which had been greatly challenged, although he has continued to believe it—that if the world could be completely free of these weapons, the U.S. would be better off. It is because of these weapons that, for the first time in our history, we have reason to fear for the safety of our country.
The President reverted to the question of radioactivity in wheat, and asked Dr. Kistiakowsky to arrange to obtain the results of samples taken in Argentina and Australia.
Dr. Kistiakowsky concluded the meeting with a report on the DISCOVERER project. The design is good and the engineering is good. However, the management (Lockheed) is extremely poor and the Air Force is taking steps to try to tighten it and strengthen it. A great number of stupid mistakes have been made (for example, using foam rubber in one apparatus which, in a vacuum, swelled up to fill the entire instrument and preventing its functioning).
Brigadier General, USA
- Source: Research in seismic detection, radioactive strontium in wheat. Secret. 3 pp. Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Diary Series. Drafted April 4.↩