242. Memorandum of Conference With President Eisenhower0
OTHERS PRESENT
- Secretary Herter, General Goodpaster
[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]
Governor Herter mentioned that there had been a bad leak to the New York Times regarding our threshold concept. This seemed to result from a luncheon Mr. McCone had had with Reston of the Times. He said the British want to have a moratorium for two or three years on explosions below the agreed threshold—i.e., on explosions against which it is not possible to inspect. We wish to exclude such explosions from any [Page 834] agreement. Mr. Herter showed the President a draft reply to Selwyn Lloyd which he had prepared. The President thought this was all right but said we should make clear in the message that the leak was ours, since the British resent very strongly any unwarranted imputation of a leak by them of secret material.
Mr. Herter said that the AEC suggests we and the UK should meet to discuss the question of resumption of tests below the threshold. He was opposed to this suggestion because it would dramatize a difference between ourselves and the British.
The President summarized this by saying that the UK has suggested a suspension of tests everywhere. So far as he is concerned, the President said he will not authorize tests, but will not make any statement that we will halt tests in environments wherein inspection cannot be carried out.
Mr. Herter said that Emelyanov had told a representative of the AEC in Vienna that he would like to talk to Mr. McCone about the threshold question. Emelyanov made the point that he reports to Khrushchev where Tsarapkin reports to Gromyko. The President said he would agree to this so long as Mr. McCone is thoroughly indoctrinated and there is no danger of his going off on his own. Mr. Herter said he would ask that the AEC representative give Emelyanov a memorandum concerning the threshold and then that we follow the matter up if Emelyanov accepts. The President approved this.
[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]
On the subject of disarmament, Mr. Herter said there is disagreement concerning the proposal to cut off production of fissionable material, in spite of the fact this has been an element in our proposals for many years. The President said he has always understood that this has been something that we could inspect. Therefore he tends to favor it. He added that there is scarcely any proposal in the field of disarmament equitable to the two sides that he would not accept if it can be inspected. Mr. Herter said he will be talking further with Defense on this matter.
[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]
Brigadier General, USA
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on February 8.↩