Qcy 7 Sat
Briefing Paper for the President's Press Conference
May 11, 1960
GENEVA TEST Ball NEGOTIATIONS
QUESTION
Mr. President, on Saturday, you released an announcement which
stated the United States! intention to resume nuclear tests.
Could you
explain why this decision was taken and why an announcement of the
decision was made at this time?
ANSWER
First, I would point out that the United States is not resuming
muclear weapons tests, The nuclear detonations referred to in the
announcement are in no way related to nuclear weapons development.
Such tests, when conducted, would be undertaken solely to further an
improved capability to detect and identify underrround nuclear
explosions, I might add in this connection that we are prepared to
work out arrangements which provide assurance to those concerned that
this would indeed be the only aim of such tests,
an
Second, it should be recognized that there is nothing really
new in this announcement other than the fact that the present progra
which has been under way for some time, will be considerably expanded
in Fiscal Year 1961,
The fact, for example, that the program will
have to involve both chemical and nuclear detonations has been common
knowledge since the Berkner Panel on Seismic Improvement recommended
(June, 1959) such explosions as a necessary undertaking to improve
detection and identification capabilities of the control system.
Finally, as is well known, since January, 1959, in concert with
the United Kingdom, we have asked the Soviet Union to join with us
in a research program aimed at improving the capability of the proposed
control network. Since we received no response to this proposal, we
began our own national program. Recently, of course, the Soviet Union
has indicated its willingness to join in such a program. Put now our
own program is well under way and there is no sense in duplicating
what we have already done. Therefore, we shall want to carry on our
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY
program.
However, we wish as well to determine areas in which
coordinated or joint research, including the use of nuclear detonations,
would be profitable in the light of the Soviet Union's recent response.
We hope to begin laying the groundwork for this type of program at the
May Lith meeting (today) in Geneva of U.S., U.K. and U.5.5.8. scientists.
GOX No.
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FOLDER Kako