Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

497. Letter From McElroy to Eisenhower¹

Washington, September 14, 1959

Dear Mr. President:

In response to the specific request of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I am attaching the memorandum of the Joint Chiefs in which they reiterate their past positions on the importance of nuclear tests.

In the light of world opinion and public concern over the hazards of atmospheric testing. I cannot support a position in favor of the resumption of relatively unlimited testing. I do, however, want to express to you my own view that a continued development of nuclear weapons is of such far-reaching importance to this country that I feel that we should (a) adopt a negotiating position with respect to a possible agreement on the suspension of testing under which underground testing would be permissible, and (b) resume underground testing after December 31st, 1959, unless by that time a comprehensive test suspension agreement had been concluded.

If we proceed as I have proposed above, I believe that our position can be kept consistent with world opinion that further atmospheric contamination is unacceptable and at the same time permit our scientists to exercise the full range of their ingenuity in the use of underground testing for weapons development.

In connection with the matter of test resumption, I refer to my letter to you of August 14th, 1959, in which I pointed out a particular problem dealing with the safety of certain important weapons now in stockpile and scheduled for continued production in relatively large numbers. It is my understanding that it is highly probable a number of tests will be required before the need for design changes can be determined and that if rectification is required, some low yield proof tests may be necessary. As a critical matter now affecting our state of readiness and apart from the longer range developments referred to by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this problem merits special consideration in establishing our course of action for the immediate future.

With great respect, I am

Faithfully yours,

Attachment

Memorandum From Goodpaster to McElroy

Washington, September 14, 1959

The President has read your letter of September fourteenth on the subject of nuclear testing, as well as the Joint Chief of Staff memorandum of August twenty-first on the same subject, which was enclosed.

He asked me to advise you that he has asked that the views in these documents be made available to the “Committee of Principles” which is considering questions relating to any resumption of nuclear testing, to be borne in mind in their further consideration of the subject, and to receive specific attention in further reports to or meetings with the President on this matter.

A.J. Goodpaster
Brigadier General, USA
Staff Secretary

Attachment

Memorandum From Gray to Dillon, Gates, McCone, Allen Dulles, and Kistiakowsky

Washington, September 16, 1959

Please note the attached documents which should be considered in the next meeting of the principals.

Gordon Gray
Special Assistant to the President

1. Source: Transmits JCS views on nuclear testing and makes his own recommendation that underground testing should resume. Top Secret. 4 pp. Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Additional Records of the Office of Special Assistant for Science and Technology, Panel, Disarmament Policy, 1959.