261. Editorial Note
On September 9, 1960, the Department of State announced the establishment of the U.S. Disarmament Administration to develop and coordinate U.S. policies and activities in the field of arms limitation and control. (Department of State press release 520, September 9, 1960; Documents on Disarmament, 1960, page 225) The administration was established as a result of a study initiated in late 1959 at the President’s request by the Department of State. The Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology recommended creation of an office responsible for arms control policies, located within the Executive Office of the President, which would work closely with the Department of State. Under Kistiakowsky’s plan, the Department of State would have sole responsibility for negotiating arms control agreements. On February 18, 1960, Kistiakowsky had sent a memorandum to the President outlining the rationale for the plan. (Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Additional Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for Science and Technology-Panel, Disarmament Organization) See the Supplement.
Secretary of State Herter proposed a disarmament organization on the staff level in the Department of State. Secretary Herter, supported by the Department of Defense, convinced the President that an upgraded disarmament effort should be located in the Department of State and should report directly to the Secretary. The new agency was to be staffed with personnel drawn from the Department of State, other agencies, and from outside the government. It was to be responsible for formulating policy recommendations for consideration within the U.S. Government with respect to the limitation and control by international agreement of armed forces and weapons of all kinds and for the direction and support of international negotiations on these matters. (Memorandum from Herter to the President, August 22; Department of State, Central Files, 600.012/8–2260) See the Supplement.