252. Letter From the Secretary of Defense (Wilson) to the Secretary of
State1
Washington, July 1,
1957.
Dear Foster: On 12 June 1957, Mr. Stassen called on Mr. Quarles2 and stated he felt it would be very helpful if we
could place in his hands a U.S. proposed list of equipment to be
deactivated concurrently with the first stage reduction of forces, as
set forth in paragraph 11(b) of the U.S. Position on the First Phase of
Disarmament.3 He confirmed this request in his
cable from London (7050) dated 18 June 1957.4 The Joint Chiefs of Staff have developed a
list of armaments5 which they would
propose be placed in storage in connection with a force level reduction
to 2.5 million. This list, together with the views and recommendations
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with which I am in general agreement, are
attached in the enclosure hereto.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have serious concern regarding a premature
disclosure of the list. They recommend, and I agree, that the list
should not be introduced into the Disarmament Sub-Committee until such
time as progress in the negotiations of other crucial items warrants
such action. In this connection, it is noted that Mr. Stassen
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reported on 26 June (London
cable 72856) that the current
discussion is directed toward the principle of such lists in a first
step, and does not involve at this time any exchange of actual
lists.
The list of equipment submitted herewith is tentative in nature and is
designed for discussion and coordination with our principal allies. The
Department of Defense would expect to be kept advised of the progress
and results of such consultations, and be afforded an opportunity to
revise the list, if this appears to be indicated, before it is
introduced in the negotiations. Similarly, after the lists have been
exchanged in the Sub-Committee the U.S. delegate should, of course, make
no agreement as to the final lists to be adopted until they have been
reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The relative advantages and disadvantages of the Western Four presenting
their lists of equipment of the Soviets first (as Mr. Zorin has suggested) and of a
simultaneous presentation of all lists in the Sub-Committee have been
weighed. It is our view that the latter procedure should be followed.
For this reason, there should be no disclosure to the Soviet delegate of
the nature or content of the U.S. list of equipment until the formal and
simultaneous exchange takes place.
Because of their concern regarding the consequences, both at home and
abroad, of a premature disclosure of the list of equipment they have
submitted, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have requested that it not be
forwarded to Mr. Stassen for
discussion with our allies until such time as we deem it appropriate. I
would suggest, therefore, that we consult and arrive at a mutual
determination as to the propitious time to take this action.7
Sincerely yours,
[Page 647]
[Enclosure]
Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of
Defense (Wilson)8
Washington, June 27,
1957.
SUBJECT
- 1.
- In response to a memorandum dated 20 June 1957, by the Deputy
Secretary of Defense, subject as above,9 the Joint Chiefs of Staff have developed a
tentative list of armaments which could be placed in storage in
connection with a force level reduction to 2.5 million as set
forth in paragraph 11 b of the U.S. Position on First Phase of
Disarmament.
- 2.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff question the advisability of
introducing any list of armaments into the current disarmament
negotiations at the present time. There are many critical
unresolved issues still before the conference. The matter of
determining specific quantities of designated armaments to be
deposited in internationally supervised storage depots should be
among the last issues to be introduced in the present
disarmament negotiations, and such introduction should be
dependent upon previous agreement upon other crucial items in
the U.S. Position on First Phase of Disarmament approved by the
President on 12 June 1957. In any event, the initial list of
armaments proposed by the United States should be presented
first to the western members of the Disarmament Subcommittee for
thorough discussion and coordination of lists. In this
connection, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have considerable
misgivings with respect to the effect of a premature disclosure
of such a U.S. list. During the process of coordination of
armaments lists with our Allies, the Joint Chiefs of Staff would
expect to be kept fully informed of the Status of Allied
consultations. Until the results of these consultations have
been reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, no U.S. list should
be discussed with or given to the Soviets either on a formal or
informal basis.
- 3.
- After determination to exchange a list of armaments, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff urge strongly that the list by the United States
be presented to the Soviet Delegate only with a simultaneous
presentation by the Soviet Delegate to the United States
Delegate of a similar list. The U.S. Delegate should make it
clear that the list proposed by the United States is being
submitted only for the purpose of negotiating
[Page 648]
a mutually agreed list to be
incorporated in any agreement. The Department of Defense should
ask the Department of State to emphasize to the U.S. Delegate
that any mutually agreed list should be provisional in nature,
pending review by the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.
- 4.
- The numbers of armaments in the tentative list prepared by the
Joint Chiefs of Staff bear only a general relation to a
reduction in manpower from 2.8 million to 2.5 million. In order
to provide a list indicative of a general order of magnitude,
the reduction of approximately 300,000 men from the Services was
apportioned in direct relation to each Service’s present
strength. This theoretical apportionment of the overall
personnel reduction and the resultant list should be recognized
as being only a rough approximation and must not be constructed
as a final solution to the problem. Any list of arnaments
actually to be placed in storage would, of necessity, be based
upon the actual force structure existing at that time and would
have to reflect appropriate consideration of specific agreements
reached and of the list provided by the USSR. In addition, a meaningful list of armaments
to be stored can be reasonably determined only when the timing
of such action can be predicted with considerable certainty. The
Joint Chiefs of Staff, in finalizing such a list, would retain
those armaments required to insure the maximum offensive and
defensive capabilities of those forces allowed under the terms
of any agreement reached, and would expect the USSR to do the same.
- 5.
- For the foregoing reasons, the Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly
urge that the provisional list of armaments provided herewith
not be forwarded to Mr. Stassen until such time as determined propitious
by the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.
- 6.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe Mr. Stassen’s query, concerning the
dosing of U.S. bases in the European area, refers to a proposal
to close four fighter bases in England. This action has been
held in abeyance at the request of SACEUR, pending completion of his dispersal
requirements. If action of this kind is planned later, Mr.
Stassen could be
advised by the Secretary of Defense.
- 7.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the foregoing form
the basis of your reply to the Secretary of State.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
