aa! minBS ¢" cre Briefing Paver for fresident's the Seotember ‘Sf BAN 7, cress Conference 1960 NB&GOTIA:TIONS QUESTION Iir. President, Thomas 3, Murray, a forner member of the Atomic Energy Commission, wrote a letter to the two Presidential nominees in which he called upon the President-elect to resume nuclear weapons tests. Would you comment on this? ANSWER I can only reiterate my own position on this matter. ‘le are not prepared to permit the Geneva Conference to go on indefinitely without achieving positive results. I have pointed out before that this country is free to reswie nuclear tests at any time, but we snall act oniy at sucn time as it is clear that every possible avenue which could lead to the conclusion of a successful test ban agreement has been appropriately explored, QUESTION Mr. President, there has been some confusion about the United States position concerning various phases of the VELA project. Could you tell us whether the United States intends to so ahead with this project revardless of whether the Soviet Union asrees to a coordin= ated research program? ANSWER ——— REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHTD. EISENHOWER LIBRARY certain aspects of the program are already well under way, as the Soviet Union is aware. We certainly will want to carry out the research necessary in this area, [lowever, during the current recess in the negotiations, consideration is being given to ways and means of doing this, bearing in mind the Soviet Union's position on the matter. REPOSITORY Exatahnus.Agdra COLLECTION BOX No. FOLDER n lhetbmaw Fate 4 Se AlLie _/0 Gla) uo / AL OK,