Office of the Historian

193. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara1

JCSM–520–67
Washington, September 23, 1967.

SUBJECT

  • Assurance Against the Unauthorized Use of US Nuclear Weapons (U)
1.
(TS) The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Services have made repeated studies in depth in regard to devices, techniques, and procedures designed to assure positive control of nuclear weapons. In aggregate, the studies point to the conclusion that the principle of [3–1/2 lines of source text not declassified].
2.
(S) In response to a request by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, dated 26 December 1963,2 the Joint Chiefs of Staff completed in 1964 a comprehensive review of all US nuclear weapon systems with the view of providing recommendations concerning any changes in procedures, controls, or weapon components that should be incorporated to provide a higher degree of assurance against their unauthorized use. This review included the views of the Services and the commanders of the unified and specified commands.
3.

(TS) As a result of this review, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended, in JCSM–941–64, dated 9 November 1964,3 that:

[1 paragraph (8–1/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

4.
(TS) In response to a proposed draft memorandum for the President on unauthorized use of nuclear weapons, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in JCSM–17–65, dated 9 January 1965,3 advised you that:

“In summary, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recognize and support fully the requirement to assure the security of nuclear weapons against unauthorized use. [8 lines of source text not declassified]”

5.
(TS) [2–1/2 lines of source text not declassified]
6.
(TS) [6 lines of source text not declassified]
7.

(TS) In order better to determine future Air Force policy relative to PAL devices in general, the Chief of Staff, US Air Force, directed that a comprehensive study be accomplished. The completed study represents the position of the Air Force on PAL philosophy and PAL systems and was forwarded to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for review. The study reaffirms the position of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and concludes that present controls against the unauthorized use of nuclear weapons are sufficient and that additional restrictive devices are not required. [8–1/2 lines of source text not declassified]

[4 paragraphs (21–1/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

8.
(TS) [5 lines of source text not declassified] If, however, the national authority directs additional mechanical constraints, the PAL concept described by the Air Force could provide an improved, technically reliable system with significantly less operational degradation and lower costs than other proposed PAL devices and would eliminate costly retrofit of additional nuclear weapons. [4 lines of source text not declassified]
9.

(TS) The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that:

[5 paragraphs (16–1/2 lines of source text) not declassified]

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Harold K. Johnson
Acting Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, JCS, Filed by the LBJ Library, Box 29. Top Secret. Attached is a September 26 transmittal memorandum from Robert N. Ginsburgh of the NSC Staff to Keeny and Rostow. At the bottom of this memorandum, Keeny wrote: “Walt—I have a number of questions about this and plan to follow up on the details of the JCS proposal and the current OSD position on the subject. I have been very interested in the possibilities of PALs, which I consider very important, ever since I put together the original NSAM on PALs for NATO forces. Despite the JCS reservations, I am glad that we have the PALs we have.”↩
  2. Not further identified.↩
  3. Not found.↩