60. Editorial Note
In telegram Supnu 1549, April 21, 1961, the U.S. delegation to the Geneva Disarmament Conference informed the Department of State that since the resumption of negotiations on March 21 the Soviets had “not only stood still on positions they have been maintaining since the summit meeting last spring” but have made it “clear that they are not budging in even the most minute particular from previous positions.” In a memorandum prepared for a National Security Council meeting on April 22, John McCloy stated that “it now appears clear that the intent of [Page 126] the Soviet negotiators at Geneva is to avoid a prompt conclusion of a Test Ban Agreement.” For texts of telegram 1549 and McCloyʼs memorandum, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume VII, pages 41–47. Earlier, in National Intelligence Estimate 4-2-61, “Attitudes of Key World Powers on Disarmament Issues,” April 6, the intelligence community had expressed its belief “that the Soviet leaders see, in agitation of the disarmament issue, a prime opportunity to further their political purposes in the non-communist world. What is not so clear is the extent to which they may actually desire to conclude agreements on disarmament.” For text of the NIEʼs conclusions, see ibid., pages 35–38.