600.0012/1–1654
Summary of Meeting in the White House, January 16, 19541
Present:
- President Eisenhower
- Secretary of State Dulles
- Under Secretary of State Bedell Smith
- Admiral Strauss
- Mr. C. D. Jackson
- Deputy Secretary of Defense Kyes
- Vice Admiral Davis
Mr. Jackson opened the meeting by saying that its purpose was to clear up one or two points regarding the interpretation of the President’s December 8th speech. The President indicated he had been fully briefed on this matter. He stated that if it could be accomplished, he would be willing to cancel out atomic and hydrogen weapons from the armaments of both the US and the USSR. He would do this to protect the US economy and the US industrial base. He pointed out that in the final analysis it was the US industrial capacity which was the decisive factor in all major wars, from the Civil War on. Once the atomic and hydrogen threat to the US economy and industrial plant were removed, he believed the US could readily handle any other form of military attack on our country. However, he agreed that in the present state of world affairs, it is impossible that any effective agreement toward this end could be worked out which would provide the necessary safeguards.
[Page 1343]Secretary Dulles agreed with everything the President had said. He pointed out that the question of separate atomic disarmament discussions with the USSR was somewhat academic as it was almost certain that the Russians would bring the subject up whether we liked it or not. Although we are perfectly prepared to listen to anything they may have to say, we do not intend to let ourselves be drawn into separate negotiations with the Soviet on the elimination or control of nuclear weapons alone. For our part, we intend to discuss only the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Secretary Dulles reiterated that we should try through these discussions to get across to friendly nations the idea that the disagreement over control of the atomic weapons was not a bilateral difference of opinion between the US and the USSR, but rather was a split between the USSR and the remainder of the free world.
Secretary Dulles went on to say that if the President’s program for the peaceful uses of atomic energy could be put into operation at an early date perhaps it would pave the way for some future agreement on the control of nuclear weapons. However, everyone present was of the opinion that no effective agreement could be reached with the Soviets on the control of nuclear weapons at this time. Secretary Dulles reinforced this point by referring to General Hull’s cable of 5 January (DA IN 31873)2 in which he emphasized that on the basis of his experience with the Communists in Korea, “it is dangerous to hope that any system of inspection can be applied effectively behind the Iron Curtain”.
In summary it was agreed at the meeting that, (a) although the US would listen to any proposals which the USSR cared to submit on the control or abolition of nuclear weapons, we would not be drawn into any negotiations on this subject, and (b) we would press for negotiations leading to the peaceful uses of atomic energy with the understanding that these discussions take place entirely separately from any discussions on control or abolition of nuclear weapons.