227. Editorial Note
On August 27, 1962, the President and Prime Minister Macmillan issued a joint statement announcing submission to the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Conference of “a draft treaty containing proposals for an end to all nuclear testing in all environments as well as an alternative draft treaty providing for an end to nuclear testing in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space.” For text of the statement and draft treaties, see Documents on Disarmament, 1962, volume II, pages 791-807.
Chairman Khrushchev responded to the President in an informal communication on September 4: “Let us immediately sign an agreement on the cessation of nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water but at the same time let us agree that with regard to underground tests negotiations will go on with an aim to reach an agreement on the underground tests as well.” Khrushchev added: “We proceeded earlier and proceed now from an assumption that under any international agreement on the cessation of nuclear weapons tests France should assume commitments analogous to those of the USSR, the US and Britain.” For text, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume VII, pages 561–562.