407 S89
FOR RELEASE AT 2:00 P.M., EDT, AUGUST 22, 1958
James C, Hagerty, Presa Secretary to the President
THE WHITE HOUSE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
The United State s welcomes the successful conclusion of the
Geneva meeting of experts who have been considering whether and
how nuclear weapons tests could be detected, Their conclusions
indicate that, if there were an agreement to eliminate such tests, its
effective supervision and enforcement would be technically possible.
This is a most important conclusion, the more so because it
is concurred in by the experts of the Soviet Union, Progress in the
field of disarmament agreements depends upon the ability to establish
effective international controls and the willingness of the countries
concerned to accept those controls, The fact therefore of an agreement
on technical possibilities of inspection and control opens up a prospect
of progress in the vitally important field of disarmament,
The United States, taking account of the Geneva conclusions,
is prepared to proceed promptly to negotiate an agreement with other
nations which have tested nuclear weapons for the suspension of
nuclear weapons tests and the actual establishment of an international
control system on the basis of the experts! report.
If this is accepted in principle by the other nations which have
tested nuclear weapons, then in order to facilitate the detailed
negotiations the United States is prepared, unless testing is resumed
by the Soviet Union, to withhold further testing on its part of atomic
and hydrogen weapons for a period of one year from the beginning of
the negotiations,
a
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY
As part of the agreement to be negotiated, and on a basie of
reciprocity, the United States would be further prepared to suspend
the testing of nuclear weapons on a year-by-year basis subject to a
determination at the beginning of each year: (A} the agreed inspection
system is installed and working effectively; and {B) satisfactory progress
is being made in reaching agreement on and implementing major and
substantial arms control measures such as the United States has long
_ sought. The agreement should also deal with the problem of detonations
‘or peaceful purposes, as distinct from weaponstests,
Our negotiators will be instructed and ready by October 31 this
year to open negotiations with other similarly inatructed negotiators,
As the United States has frequently made clear, the suspension
of testing of atomic and hydrogen weapons is not, in itself, a measure
of disarmament or a limitation of armament, An agreement in this
respect ie significant if it leads to other and more substantial agreementa
elating to limitation and reduction of fissionable material for weapons
and to other essential phases of disarmament, It is in this hope that
the United States makes this proposal,
REPOSITORY Exaurhasrs.
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Statemint
8/22/58