#184 - 9
Q
Sarah McClendon, El Paso Times.
Sir, I've been over there several times
and asked that question -- (more laughter) ---
THE PRESIDENT: Well, do you think you or I should do the correction from
Mr. Hagerty, one of us will have to do it.
Q Kenworthy, New York Times, Mr. President, several leading scientists
last week testified before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, that the art
of concealing underground tests was outstripping the art of detecting them.
Would the views of those scientists be taken into account in our negotiations
at Geneva or at Paris, and would we request an increase in the number of
detection stations for a treaty on a nuclear test ban?
THE PRESIDENT:
Well, you know the plan that we suggested was to agree
on the methods for eliminating those above the atmosphere, those in the
atmosphere and those under the sea. And then, underground downto I
believe what they call a seismic index of 4.75 which is supposed to show a
size ] believe somewhere in the order of 20 KT.
Now, up until that point, that would require an inspection system about like
that that was laid out in 1958 at Geneva; but to go below that is going to take
avery much more elaborate system. Now, what we have asked is for a group
of the three countries that are working on this to get their scientists and see.
whether they can come up and develop the kind of plan that would be needed
for these below the critical point, and that is as far as it has gone.
I don't know, I have heard them say, I have heard it said the nurnber would
have to be multiplied three times, or something of that kind as to the number
that was agreed first, but I am not sure.
Q Bailey, Minneapolis Tribune. Mr. President, earlier this year the
Secretary of Agriculture indicated that a wheat bill raising price supports
in any way would not fall within the guide lines you set down in your message.
More recently, Republican leaders have corne away from meetings at the
White House, including one meeting at which you were present, with the
impression that it might be possible to have some small increase in wheat
price supports in order to get a new piece of legislation this year, I wonder
if you could help us out with your view on that?
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHTD.
EISENHOWER LIBRARY
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I am against higher price supports because the only
ffect I can see of them is that we put more and more wheat in storage; we
vave surpluses that overhang the market, depress prices and make the
‘roblem much greater and greater, and more severe,
dow, if there were any kind of reasonable plan that connected with other
‘s tures of the thing that they could bring something about that seemed to
': reasonable and fair to the farmers, well I would be glad to look at it --