Ley 7 ay Briefing Paper for the President's Press Conference August 17, 1960 GENEVA TEST BAN NEGOTIATIONS Question Mr. President, Mr. McCone and Mr. Merchant are in London to discuss with the British Government the present status of the Geneva test ban negotiations. Reports from London indicate that there is a difference of views on when an agreement might be reached as well as on nuclear detonations in a research program. Would you comment on this? Answer Mr. McCone and Mr. Merchant have gone to London to discuss with the British recent developments in the Geneva conference including such matters as safeguards, on-site inspection quota, the moratorium and phasing. I am not aware of any significant differences between the British and ourselves on any of the conference's unresolved issues. JI am confident, however, that if indeed any differences do exist these will be satisfactorily resolved by the close of this London meeting. Question Mr. President, isn't it unusual for the Head of the Atomic Energy Commission to participate in discussions of this nature? Answer Since the question of safeguards is one of the key matters under discussion it was felt that Mr. McCone who is thoroughly familar with U.S. legislation on Atomic Energy matters and other aspects of the safeguarded problem should attend the London meeting. Question REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D. EISENBOWER LIBRARY Mr. President, what do we hope the outcome of this London meeting will be? Answer Throughout the course of the test ban negotiations we have worked in close cooperation with the U.K. This meeting is another in a series REPOSITORY. COLLECTION “A Z : 80x No. /O rower Leas (rylerorece. shale oO

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