76. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara 1

JCSM–112–65

SUBJECT

  • Draft Policy Paper—Chemical and Biological Warfare (U)
1.
Reference is made to:
a.
A memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA), I–29945/64, dated 10 December 1964, subject as above, which forwarded a draft, “National Policy Paper—Chemical and Biological Warfare,” for comment and recommendation, plus draft national policy paper.2
b.
A memorandum by the Director, Correspondence and Directives Division, Office of the Secretary of Defense, dated 31 December 1964, subject as above,3 which advised that the primary goal of the draft policy paper is the preparation of a National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM), that efforts should be focused accordingly, and that detailed comment on the background material is not required.
c.
JCSM–184–64, dated 13 May 1964, subject: “Chemical and Biological Weapons,”4 which forwarded to you draft responses to items of chemical and biological information requested by the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
d.
JCSM–404–64, dated 13 May 1964, subject: “Chemical and Biological Weapons,”5 which forwarded to you supplemental information for the coordinated State/Defense review of chemical and biological policy.
2.
The draft national policy paper, forwarded by reference 1a, includes an abstract which contains specific statements of chemical and biological policy. The views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this abstract are reflected in the line-in line-out recommendations attached at Appendix A.6
3.
In accordance with the request in reference 1b, a proposed NSAM based on the policy views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated in this revised abstract, is attached at Appendix B. In the event that substantive changes are considered necessary to the proposed NSAM, the Joint Chiefs of Staff request the opportunity to review and comment on such changes.
4.
The draft paper in reference 1a was useful in the consideration of national policy for chemical and biological weapons. However, the source information contained in references 1c and 1d provides a more comprehensive consideration of chemical and biological operations and it is suggested that it be used as the primary source in support of the proposed national chemical and biological policy.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
L.J. Kirn 7
Rear Admiral, USN
Deputy Director, Joint Staff
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330 70 A 1266, 385 Methods and Manner of Conducting War 1965. Secret.
  2. Neither the draft paper nor the December 10 memorandum attached to it is printed. (Ibid.) The words “plus draft national policy paper” were added by hand.
  3. Not found.
  4. A copy is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files, 320 (29 Oct 63).
  5. A copy is ibid., Sec. 2
  6. Neither Appendix A nor B is printed.
  7. Printed from a copy that indicates Kirn signed the original.