Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

185. National Security Action Memorandum No. 101¹

Washington, October 6, 1961.

TO

• The Secretary of State

SUBJECT

• Follow-Up on the President’s Speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 1961²

It will be appreciated if arrangements are made to ensure that the actions being taken within the government to implement the President’s speech are brought to the attention of all parts of the government affected thereby, and are currently reported to the White House. It is understood that certain steps along this line have already been initiated. However, the following specific list identifying the items in which the President is interested in having continuing follow-up is furnished you for your guidance in coordinating the interdepartmental aspects of and in reporting on these items.

ITEMS IN THE SPEECH FOR SPECIAL IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTING

A. In Relation to the UN

1. “Selection of an outstanding civil servant to carry forward the responsibilities of Secretary General.” (Page 2, paragraph 2)

2. “The prompt review and revision of the composition of United Nations bodies.” (Page 2, paragraph 5)

3. Earmarking for all member nations “special peace-keeping units in their armed forces—to be on call of the United Nations—to be specially trained and quickly available—and with advance provision for financial and logistic support.” (Page 5, paragraph 2–V)

4. Suggest “a series of steps to improve the United Nations’ machinery for the peaceful settlement of disputes—for on-the-spot fact-finding, mediation and adjudication—for extending the rule of international law.” (Page 5, paragraph 3–V)

5. “Debate colonialism in full—and apply the principle of free choice and the practice of free plebiscites in every corner of the globe.” (Page 7, paragraph 1)

B. In Relation to Arms Control and Disarmament

1. A new statement of newly agreed principles for negotiation (relating to “general and complete disarmament”). (Page 3, paragraph 2)

2. “Challenge the Soviet Union, not to an arms race, but to a peace race—to advance together step by step, stage by stage, until general and complete disarmament has been achieved. We invite them now to go beyond agreement in principle to reach agreement on actual plans.” (Page 3, paragraph 3)

3. “Program to be presented to this Assembly-for general and complete disarmament under effective international control.” (Page 3, paragraph 4)

4. “I therefore propose, on the basis of this Plan, that disarmament negotiations resume promptly, and continue without interruption until an entire program for general and complete disarmament has not only been agreed but has been actually achieved.” (Page 4, paragraph 3)

5. A “treaty assuring the end of nuclear tests of all kinds, in every environment, under workable controls. The United States and the United Kingdom have proposed such a treaty that is both reasonable, effective and ready for signature. We are still prepared to sign that treaty today.” (Page 4, paragraph 1–IV)

C. In Relation to Outer Space

“We shall urge proposals extending the United Nations Charter to the limits of man’s exploration in the Universe, reserving outer space for peaceful use, prohibiting weapons of mass destruction in space or on celestial bodies, and opening the mysteries and benefits of space to every nation. We shall further propose cooperative efforts between all nations in weather prediction and eventually in weather control. We shall propose, finally, a global system of communications satellites linking the whole world in telegraph and telephone and radio and television.” (Page 6, paragraph 1)

D. In Relation to Economic Growth

“Propose designating this decade of the 1960s as the United Nations Decade of Development. The United Nations’ existing efforts in promoting economic growth can be expanded and coordinated. Regional surveys and training institutes can now pool the talents of many. New research, technical assistance and pilot projects can unlock the wealth of less developed lands and untapped waters. And development can become a cooperative and not a competitive enterprise-to enable all nations, however diverse in their systems and beliefs, to become in fact as well as in law free and equal nations.” (Page 6, paragraph 3)

ITEMS ON WHICH FOLLOW-UP AND REPORTING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH ESTABLISHED CHANNELS

A. In Relation to the War in Southeast Asia

B. In Relation to the Crisis over Germany and Berlin

McGeorge Bundy

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM No. 101. No classification marking. Copies were sent to the Secretaries of Defense and the Treasury; the Directors of Central Intelligence, USIA, and ACDA; the Administrators of AID and NASA; the Chairman of AEC; the Executive Secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council; and the President’s Special Assistant for Science and Technology. An attached covering memorandum from Executive Secretary Lucius D. Battle to Secretary Rusk, October 10, asked IO to report to the White House on activities to be undertaken in the UN context.
2. For text of President Kennedy’s speech to the UN General Assembly, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, pp. 616–626.