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In reply, Secretary Dulles said he simply could not agree
with the accuracy of Governor Stassen's presentation of what had oc~curred jin the presentation of the U. 5. position on disarmament at
London last August. He did not care to argue this matter, but he
wes not sure that Governor Stassen qualified as an expert in the
knowledge of what our NATO allies will or will not accept, though,
he added, he did not question Governor Stassen's sincerity.
Ambassador Lodge said that apropos of the matter of timing,
he found himself opposed to any meeting of the Disarmament Commission
in January, even though it was chaired by the United States and even
if we were to have a new position on disarmament. He would much prefer to have a meeting in some three months’ time, during which period
the necessary preparations could have been made.
As to inspection, Ambassador Lodge said that he had never
visualized spelling cut in a UN resolution what the precise inspection system would be. He thought we would only agree in principle
to inspection in the resolution. We would have to confer most carefully with our allies on the size and shape of any actual inspection
ZONES»
;
Secretary Dulles said he felt that the situation was very
fluid at the moment, and that we might want to change our position
on disarmament later.
The President said he couldn't
sen's inspection proposal could properly
Secretary Dulles agreed with him. Again
that his proposal was not a retreat, but
believe that Governor Stasbe called a retreat, and
Governor Stassen insisted
merely a new initiative.
The Vice President said he had a question to put to Secretary Dulles. Supposing that an agreement for the cessation of testing occurs and tests thereafter would be frozen. The Vice President
assumed that we would be ahead. If this is the case, what is the explanation of the fact that the Soviets are pressing other nations so
hard for a cessation of nuclear tests?
Secretary Dulles replied that he supposed that the Soviets
feel they have all they need in the way of nuclear weapons for an aggressive attack on the United States. On the other hand, we do not
feel that we have enough nuclear weapons for the defense of the
United States.
Admiral Strauss added, in explanation to the Vice President,
that the Soviets probably believe that we would not conduct clandestine tests if we agreed to a cessation. On the other hand, there was
no reason why they would not conduct clandestine tests and so ultimately they would overtake us.
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