UNCLASSIFIED General Twining said General Norstad was of the opinion that the Soviets were having trouble with their missiles. Governor Stassen asked whether any seasonal factor would account for the decline in Soviet testing. Mr. Dulles replied that the seasonal factor was minimal. Admiral Strauss said perhaps the Soviets were content with previous tests. In August 1951 and August 1953 there were no Soviet atomic tests because the Soviets were content with their 1951 device as a trigger. The President said it was incredible that a military organization should be content with an existing weapon. Mr. Dulles did not think the Soviets could be content with a limited mmber of 950mile range tests. The National Security Council: Noted and discussed an oral briefing by the Director of Central Intelligence on the subject, with specific reference to a tabulation of Soviet missiles tests during 1955, 1956 and 1957. Neuen W/ MARTON W. BoGGs Director NSC Secretariat = UNCLASSIPF=

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