peposrronyWeer Gtigfeaf 51-5haat, coutection KG 324 Box No.9.2. CNS: 326-57- op) January 7, 1gsfOLDER MLA '7 dos. Yu ie je 9S MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN GORDON DEAN COMMISSIONER H, D. SMYTH Lo a Le kg 4-35-95 COMMISSIONSR we. M. ZUCKERT agua _ © After advising Dr. Smyth and Mr, Zuckert on January 5th, I discussed with the President on January 5th the advisability of limiting his State of the Union remarks on the Fniwetok tests to generalities. At 408989 this meeting I agreed to submit proposed language to him before noon on January 6th, In the forenoon of January 6th I returned to the White House, where the President asked me to take up my suggestions with Mr. Charles Murphy. Also with Mr. Murphy at this time were David Bell, Administrative Assistant; Marshall Shulman, State Department; Richard Neustadt, Assistant to Mr. Murphy; and David Lloyd, Administrative Assistant to the President. T reviewed with this group my suggestions to the President of the day before, I pointed out to them the inappropriateness of the language, which they had proposed for inclusion in the speech, Mr. Murphy then read my proposed language, which did not seem acceptable to this group. we then returned to a discussion of the language proposed by the President's speech writers, JI pointed out how our chances for using the Bniwetok results as a bargaining counter in renewed international negotiations would be prejudiced by the proposed speech material, I also pointed out that the proposed material contained restricted data which unless declassified cculd not be published. At this point it struck me that this group had a completely false appreciation of the facts of the situation as to our thermonuclear capacity. I asked Murphy if it were permissible to give this group the facts as I understood them, I was answered in the affirmative and stated the facts. These men were completely non-~plussed upon hearing my statement and said that it was contrary to their understanding as given to them by General Bradley, Messrs, Finletter, Lovett, Foster, and Acheson, and others, After this there seemed to be some disposition to change their suggested approach; but J left with no assurance that, my suggestions would be taken, I am making this statement in order to record the circumstances of my disclosure of this restricted data to President Truman's assistants and to suggest ratification by the Commission of this action, which I believed to be necessary to accomplish the last minute change in the President's plan to give more detailed information about the thermonuclear explosion. . 7 f N | W eemomas E, Murray « ‘Commissioner ps 4} aed