169. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles and the Under Secretary of State (Herter)0
TELEPHONE CALL TO MR. HERTER
H said the two pending issues of importance are the Taiwan Straits and cessation of nuclear testing.
[Here follows discussion of Taiwan.]
On the other it is clear with Killian, McCone and Quarles there is basic opposition to doing anything at all. He thinks by tomorrow they will have a pretty clear concept of their own position, so they can have an outline before the Sec and the Pres. Killian says as a scientist he wants to go on. The Sec said he advocated cessation. H said he mentioned that yesterday. It should be complete without exceptions. McCone is for it except underground. Quarles wants to make it inseparable from the first phase of the disarmament package. He is willing to move a little away—but says no offer on cessation until there is a firm agreement on inspection. It looks as if they will close at the end of the week in Geneva. The political questions are still wide open. After H finished on this the Sec responded by saying he said at press conf we would have to insist on observation points and they are waiting for us to ask in Communist China and they will say recognize us first. There is the question of who would supervise the thing—international bodies or neutrals. Quarles thinks the political questions are insuperable and so no offer until they are adjusted—this from Herter. H said it is not in shape yet to put up to the Pres. The Sec asked when and H said there would be another meeting tomorrow by noon. Farley worked all night on papers. The Sec said he probably won’t be down until Wednesday.1
[Here follows discussion of the Middle East.]
Then H said in connection with the preliminary draft statement for the Sec or the Pres to make when Geneva folds up—it will welcome the progress etc. and take the initiative for an early conference re political problems with the same group perhaps. H said the Sec had referred to two stages but the first thing would be where and under whose auspices inspection should be made—back in framework of the UN—there is the question of being prepared for something when it breaks. The Sec thinks we should announce unilaterally suspension provided the Russians continue [Page 638] theirs. H thinks McCone would go along with that. Quarles would fight it. The Sec said he would say on the assumption the Russians will continue their business and we will do the same for 12 months except for underground and in the meantime we will develop all political angles to see if there is a basis for continuing it. We have to say something before the GA meets. H said Killian might go all the way for limited period of time. The Sec asked H to have Farley draw up something. H said the Sec may want to consult with the Br and Fr in arriving at a position. The Sec would like something by Monday.2 H should push it with the Pres to have something to discuss here. H will try to get something up tonight.