Ltr (21Jan60) from Loper (Ch, MLC) to McCone (Ch, AEC): Notes President's recent announcement pertaining to test moratorium and says time may be to prepare joint AEC-DOD requirements of weapons for testing and plan for underground series so approval may be obtained to initiate preps requiring funds and effort. Stresses need to plan for underground series. AEC never really answered above until Starbird - Loper itr in July60_ _ after “events had made such specific test planning less worthwhile". A draft reply from Ch, AEC in April (not sent) noted NTS preps for 7 or 8 priority shots and response times ranging from 2 to 18 mos. for other shots mentioned by Loper. (Notes recent events "make it inappro- priateat this time to submit specific proposals for early testing."') . Beginning here I will discuss the DASA administrative files from calendar year 60. The first item of interest, dated 22 Jan., I believe I’ve taken notes on elsewhere. TS It is a memo for the Chairman of the JCS, DDR&E, and the MLC from James Douglas, Deputy Sec. of Defense on "Nuclear Weapons Development and Weapons Effects Programs." The addressees are requested to view their current study and experimental . programs on nuclear weapons effects and apply the following guidance: If realization of useful results depends fully on actual tests underwater or in the atmosphere, these programs should be suspended. If realization of useful results depends on outer space or underground testing, they should be continued for the present in the planning or preparatory stages with attention given to design and testing of instrumentation. If useful data can be obtained by theoretical, computational, or simulation setnoad or by low order detonations as defined by the AEC, increased emphasis should be placed on these approaches.