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

423. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to Secretary of State Rusk¹

Washington, July 23, 1962.

SUBJECT

• Recommended U.S. Position on a Separate Ban on Weapons of Mass Destruction in Outer Space

The President reviewed your memorandum of July 12th and asked me to report to you that he was not prepared to accept paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 of the recommended position insofar as they imply a total rejection of any possible declaratory ban on weapons of mass destruction in outer space.² His present belief is that at a certain stage such a declaratory ban might be in our interest if nothing better can be achieved. He would like an examination of the possibilities of nationally operated systems for the detection and identification of any such weapons. Moreover, he questions whether our position on insistence on inspection must be maintained on all subjects, regardless of our own possible interest in declaratory agreements in special cases.

The President hopes that the matter will be reviewed in the light of these comments and that a further recommendation can be presented to him soon.

McGeorge Bundy³

1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM No. 156, Negotiations on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Box 336. Top Secret.
2. This July 12 memorandum transmitted the recommendations of the Committee on Satellite Reconnaissance Policy, Document 421. The three paragraphs recommended that the United States oppose a declaratory ban on weapons of mass destruction in outer space, while stressing the need for adequate means of verification. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM No. 156, Negotiations on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Box 336)
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.