examine the entire program for Operation HARDTACK,
Mr. York
remarked that the testing of the two rocket shots is quite
important to the anti-missile program,
Mr. Vance said in viev
the adjournment of the London Disarmament Conference earlier !
the year, a weapons test moratorium is unlikely and, therefore
there now seems to be no urgency in testing U.S, detection
capabilities at high altitudes.
General Starbird pointed out that if 1t becomes necessary}
to reduce the number of devices tested, the clean weapon devic
will have to be eliminated since these are purely experimenta!
devices, while the others are DOD requirements,
Mr, Libby
reiterated, however, that the President has talked repeatedly
the need to develop clean weapons and has, in fact, based his
defense of continued weapons testing partly on the fact that n
tests are needed to achieve such weapons,
Mr. Floberg suggested that the U.N, observers be permitte
to see one of the other shots, thus eliminating the extra
observer shot,
General Starbird replied that AEC should test
weapon already proven to be clean by a previous test,
rather
than risk one of the new devices not being as clean as expects
The United States would suffer a serious setback, he said, if
weapon which it had claimed to be clean, proved not to he bef<
a group of U.N, observers,
Mr, Libby suggested that the
President be asked to reconsider his proposal to invite U.N,
observers to the next test series.
Mr. Graham observed that the Commission's long range
interests might best be served by reducing the number of shot
for Operation HARDTACK, and thereby reduce the possibility of
arousing public opinion against further tests of any type.
Hi
suggested that more of the shots be fired underground in tunn
as was done during Operation PLUMBBOB,
- 4.
General Starbird poin