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Papers, 1953-61 |
(Aun Whitman file)
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things. Secretary Herter said that the House wonld only be in
session for two weeks. The Vice President stated that there
was no chance that anything could be done at this session of
Congress.
Mr. Gray observed that whereas the tests as planned were
not weapons tests, nevertheless they do have collateral defense
aspects. Secretary Gates mentioned base hardening, and Mr.Gray
pointed out that it could not be said that there are no defense
implications. Mr. Gates said that the implications were defensive.
Mr. MeCone spoke of his recent trip to the underground test
site.
He said there was a 950 foot shaft and that the device would
be placed at the bottom.
One thousand feet away was a 750 foot
shaft.
There was a tunnel leading to within 200 feet of the first
shaft, and additionally there were three sets of other tunnels,
radiating from the second shaft. The structures are of various
kinds, including concrete and steel and number elght or ten.
In-
formation to be derived from the tests would be valuable for civil
defense, base hardening, the mining industry, and for tunnel construction techniques. Ali the information would be made public.
The site had been started by Defense and AEC three or four years
ago and had cost $5 million.
Mr. McCone emphasized that no inform-
ation on weapons of any kind was involved and that it was, in his
opinion, a very worthwhile experiment.
Mr. Stans expressed concern about world opinion and wondered
whether the underground tests might be regarded as a resumption of
nuclear testing. He said we should make it very clear that'no new
weapons are involved. Secretary Herter said that if the negotiations
are broken off, then the AEC would test some devices having weapons
implications.
Mr. McCone said that the AEC had a list of defense
requirements which could only be met by further testing. The President
emphasized that no weapons ere involved in this specific action and
that 1t was important that we did not get weapons into this. Secretary Herter commented that our public posture would be much better
if we could say that the tests were seismic only.
The Vice President expressed concern for the security of the
matters which had just been discussed and said he hoped that there
would not be debriefings to hundreds of people throughout the departments.
The President agreed, and said it was most important to pro-~ |
tect the subject from falling into unauthorized hands. Mr. Gray said
that, in the light of the sensitivity of the discussion, there would
be no debriefing of the Planning Board on this item.
The National Security Council:
Sate.
we
Discussed the subject on the basis of an oral presentation
by the Secretary of State.
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