It is worth mentioning that even though the title of this folder is simply Succotash,
in it
.
the entries /are far more than just the formal Succotash Program but include
all of the readiness sorts of thinking through the moratorium all the way up
until the resumption of testing in 1961.
means
This to me is significant since it
that perhaps the name Succotash was the one that was thought of as
Buyers se
synonamus with Readiness in the Livermore Community during the moratorium.
re
The first piece of correspondence in this folder is in reply to a 12 October letter
from Teller to Starbird concerned with increasing the degree of readiness and
a similar teletype on 22 octover . Gee, a 16 November 1959 letter from
a
‘Starbird to Teller responding to these proposals.
states ''As I told you when you were here,
.
In his opening paragraph he
I had not intended to answer the letter
right away because the answer would have had to be in the negative.
to wait until the situation in regard to Geneva clarified somewhat.
however I believe I must answer sooner.
A.
I prefered
Now,
The two basic reasons are:
John Foster has emphasized that it is essential to do something
‘to-keep the theoretical people concretely at work.
I must believe
him on this but I regret this is the situation.
B.
We are getting queries from the test organization and its contractors
with whom your people are talking concerning our intentions.
This
leads to confusion and the matter must be clarified."'
The letter seems to contain so much that is important and it is so lengthy that I
will try to get a copy of the SECRET letter for our files.
Starbird is certainly
10
2. .