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FOR RELEASE IN THE MORNING PAPERS, OCTOBER 24, 1956
HO7 194
THE WHITE HOUSE
HUAI, Wu
ABOLISOd3H
NOILO3STIOS
James C. Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I have concluded it to be in the public interest to place before
you, the American people -- and before the world -- a full and
explicit review of your Government's policies and actions with
respect to the development and testing of nuclear weapons, as these
affect our national defense, our efforts toward world disarmament;
and our quest of a secure and just peace for all nations.
In this cause of world peace, one truth must never be lost
It is this: the critical issue is not a matter of
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testing nuclear weapons --~ but of preventing their use in nuclear
war. America: has repeatedly stated ite readiness, indeed its
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from sight,
anxiety, to put all nuclear weapons permanently aside -- to stop
all tests of such weapons -- to devote some of our huge expenditures
for armament to the greater cause of mankind's welfare -- to do all
these things whenever, and as scon as, one basic requirement is met,
This requirement is that we, as a nation, and all peoples, know
safety from attack,
In this spirit and in this awareness, we as a nation have two
tasks, First: we must -- and do -- seek assiduously to evolve
agreements with other nations that will promote trust and
understanding among all peoples. Second: at the same time, and
until that international trust is firmly secured, we must -- and do <q"
make sure that the quality and quantity of our military weapons
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command such respect as to dissuade any other nation from the
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REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY
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temptation of aggression,
Thus do we develop weapons, not to wage war, but to prevent war.
Only in the clear light of this greater truth can we properly
examine the lesser matter of the testing of our nuclear weapons.
On this specific matter, I last week directed the appropriate
Departments and Agencies of your Government to submit to me
summaries of all relevant facte in their respective areas of
responsibility. This record covers the span of the past 11 years -since the first atomic explosion which occurred in a test in New
Mexico, It may be pertinent to note that my direct personal
concern with these matters extends almost uninterruptedly over
these some eleven -years -- in my successive capacities as Chief
of Staff of the Army, Advisor to the Secretary of Defense,
Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe, and, since 1953,
as your President and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
This record of your government's policies and actions -insofar as it does not prejudice national security -- is herewith
made public. It encompasses facts in the several areas of
national defense, scientific development, and diplomatic conduct.
This record reflects, clearly and consistently, the
persistent, peaceful purposes of our nation,
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