CR
13 November
U.S. proposes to USSR that Geneva Conference on
Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapons Tests be resumed
28 November 1961.
hA
In an unclassified letter to Senator Aiken on 13November, Gen. Betts covers
some rationale behind the commission feeling the need for resuming atmospheric
testing if the President so directs. In assessing the relative positions of
the United States and the Soviet Union since testing was resumed on 1 September
the letter states in part "The Soviet Union could have been making relatively
large gains in nuclear weapons technology through their current intensive tests
in the atmosphere. They have demonstrated that the number of tests that can
be conducted in the atmosphere in a comparatively short period of time is much
greater than we have been able to conduct in the same period in the limited
facilities presently available to us for underground testing. Thus, by
limiting ourselves to underground testing our possible relative gains vs
the Soviets in this field are as a consequence also limited.
Atmospheric
testing would relieve this limitation on the number and types of tests that
can be conducted.
In addition to the more rapid rate of progress through
atmospheric testing, it is important to note that much needed information
/
on effects and operational behavior of weapons systems could be gained only
through atmospheric testing. Proof tests of large yield weapons and operational
tests of entire weapons systems cannot be conducted underground. Atmospheric
tests would permit gathering important effects information relating to anti
intercontinental ballistic missiles.
In this area we do not believe that
conclusive information can be gained through underground tests alone.
Important weapons developments necessitating large yield tests cannot be achieved
in the present state of technology with underground tests."
ed the C-130 aircraft
A 14 November TWX from Headquarters TAC,which suppli
wa
within their command Bz
notes that there is a serious shortage of such airplanes
and they request information on the configuration status of the two AFSWC
C-130 aircraft as well as the date at which they are to be returned to TAC,
“14 November J é f
New York State Governor Rockefeller warns
US against test ban;
says that agreement
now "could place in jeopardy both our national
safety and the defense of freedom throughout
the world."
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