Office of the Historian

373. Memorandum From Gordon Chase of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1

Washington, November 20, 1965.

SUBJECT

  • World Disarmament Conference
1.

Attached is a cable from Goldberg and Foster2 which recommends that we support immediately a Preparatory Commission for the WDC, composed of the 5 nuclear states, plus 4 or 5 others. Goldberg and Foster feel that the Chicoms will either refuse to participate in such a Preparatory Commission or will be obdurate.3 This in turn will bring us beneficial returns on both the WDC and on the Chirep issues.

On the other hand, if we continue to give the impression that we are not willing to have the Chicoms participate in disarmament outside the UN, it will only increase the determination of the WDC supporters to bring the Chicoms into the UN.

2.
Bill Buffum (Joe Sisco’s deputy) on a preliminary basis thinks that the tactic is a sound one and that there is a good chance that Ball and your brother4 will buy it. Joe Sisco hopes to meet with Ball about the matter on Sunday.5
GC
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, United Nations, Vol. 1. Secret. For additional documentation on the U.S. position on a world disarmament conference, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume XI.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. McGeorge Bundy wrote “OK” in the margin next to this sentence.↩
  4. William Bundy, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs.↩
  5. November 21.↩