ACHa Briefing Paper for President's Press Conference February 17, 1960 GENEVA TEST BAN NEGOTLATIONS QUESTION Mr. President, the Sovict Union yesterday officially rejected the new United States proposal on a phased test ban agreement. Coild you tell us what you now see as the prospects for agreement? ANSWIER First, I must say that I hope this is not the Soviet Union's final response to our proposal. Certainly, however, this inmediate Soviet rejection is a creat disappointment ard casts considerable doubt on the Soviet Union's professed desire to halt nuclear weapons tests. Regardless of what the future holds, our recent proposal places within the erasp of the three negotiating powers the opportunity to halt immediately the major portion of these tests, it is difficult to believe that any country in good faith would let such an onnortunity pass, particularly with the assurance that we are ready to extend the ban to the areas which cannot now be adequately controtied through a joint progran of research and experimentation. I hope other nations of the world will recognize what a disservice can be done to the hopes of all peace loving peonle if the Soviet union intends to stand by the position it has thus far taken. £8 te the future of the neyotiations, ¢ wish to make no predict:By LONG « The Soviet representative at the talks has put forward a proposal cealing with the question cf technical criteria. ‘this we snall study and will respond to in due crcurse, QUNSTION Mr. President, why didn't toe United States in its new test ban proposal include a moratorium on tests helow the threshold of 4.75 (19 ldlotons) for perhaps a one or two year veriod while the joint research procsran to overcome existing technical difficulties in that area LIBRARY REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHTD. EISENHOWER is being carried out? Pirst of all, this does not conform with our position, wnich has always been based on the premise that we should not agree to a ban on any tests which can not be adequately controlled. lioreover, Sucn an arranvenent could delay establishment of controls over the presently exemoted area since a nation, if it desired a minimim of control, conld, to further BEST COPY AVAILABLE nerosronLtaonhaaver. Cnr Whitrianw couLecTion Comfursrreg, end BOX No. LQ FOLOER kaolésCorborencs 2 leo