47 Sen
Briefing Paper for President's Press Conference
December 2, 1959
TSNIVA CONFERENCE
ON THE DISCONTINUANCSE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS Tusts
QUESTION:
Mr. President, the technical discussions have been underway in
Geneva for approximately one week. Could you tell us how they are
going and what we hope these discussions will accomplish?
ANSWER :
As you kmow, these technical discussions are being carried out in
private and therefore, I do not wish to comment on how they are LOLNE y
except to say, that both sides have seemed to settle down quicidy to the
task before thems
Now as to what the technical discussions will accomplish, it is
hoped that the discussions and conclusions of these talks will offer
a firm, up-to-date, scientific bas is for an agreement on a test
cessation=~an areement that we certainly, earnestly seeks
I just want to add that we are indeed fortunate to once again
have Dr. James Fisk leading our scientific delegation in these discussions.
QUESTIGH s
lr, President, the Antarctica treaty, which was signed the other
day, stipulates that until a general international acreement on nuclear
explosions is reached, such explosions willbe prohibited in Antarctica.
Could you tell us what bearing this might have on the current test ban
negotiations in Geneva?
ty :
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT, D. BEISERHOWER LIBRARY .
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ANS:TER :
This nrovision of the treaty concerns the detonations of nuclear
devices for peaceful purposes since the testing of weapons of all kind
is elsewhere prohibited in the treaty, The United States has tabled
an article for peaceful detonations in the Geneva negotiations, We
envisage that rules for such detonations would form a part of a treaty
for tne discontinuance olf weapons tests, It is such rules which would,
with the consent of the parties concerned, become operative in Antarctica.
REPOSITORY
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