Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Regulation of Armaments; Atomic Energy, Volume XX

293. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, August 30, 1957¹

Washington, August 30, 1957

OTHERS PRESENT

• Secretary Dulles
• Governor Stassen
• Mr. Gerard Smith
• General Goodpaster

The purpose of the meeting was to enable Mr. Stassen to report the status of disarmament negotiations in light of Zorin’s recent speeches. Mr. Stassen said that we have put our whole proposal before the Soviets² except for the matter of a European zone, which is being held up until after the German elections. He said he had formulated the following alternatives as to what the Soviets might be doing: first, they may be closing out the talks; second, they may be probing hard to see if we will make further concessions; third, these actions may be a front behind which they are preparing to make a further concession themselves. Mr. Stassen said he is inclined to think No. 3 is the most likely, but he is in a decided minority in so thinking. He said there have been similar instances previously, although they are much tougher in their line than before. Zorin, however, had said he would be present at the meeting on Tuesday,³ and that his last statement did not mean that the last meeting was a final one.

Mr. Stassen felt we should not yield further, and the President said there is nothing we could offer. Mr. Stassen said there are two possibilities for consideration. The first is to make some of the provisions separable, and the second pertains to the European zone after the German elections. Regarding the first, he said that perhaps we could start the Arctic zone operation and agree to stop testing if the Soviets make concessions. Mr. Dulles asked whether we would not insist on a cut-off of production, and the President asked if we would not have to obtain their commitment at least to the principle. The President thought we will gain through putting a cut-off of production into effect (Mr. Stassen had suggested that this provision is perhaps not too important to the western world). Mr. Stassen then said that after the German elections we could “round out” the European zone, and Secretary Dulles recalled that we have said we would consult on a small zone, which must include substantial Russian territory.

Governor Stassen then said that there will be a better chance next week to see if Zorin’s statements are a closing out of the present negotiations, or are just probing. He said we will then have to decide whether we try to require them to terminate the negotiations. Mr. Dulles said there is another alternative, additional to the three cited by Governor Stassen. That is an effort in the United Nations to set up a new forum for debating the topic, bringing in India and other countries. The President said he sees signs they are trying to obtain world support for simple pledges—which so far as he is concerned would be worthless in the case of the Soviets. Mr. Dulles said the Soviets have been taking the stand that the present negotiations are too much in terms of the USSR vs. NATO. Mr. Smith suggested that we might wish to have the Philippines and Sweden added to the subcommittee, and Mr. Stassen said the Soviets would probably try to have India added.

The President said that he has seen some favorable comment developing on the free world proposal just made in the negotiations. Mr. Dulles added that it was a great step forward to obtain NATO agreement on this proposal.

Responding to a question by the President, Mr. Stassen reported the large number of meetings that are being held (two or three in all on nearly every day). The negotiation is an exercise in infinite patience. He recalled that Zorin had said that it looks as though the West is proposing to give West Germany a veto on the plans being developed. He said that the Soviets give some indication that they think their position has been deteriorating since the United States made its statement about willingness to accept a two-year suspension. Many countries are now supporting our proposal for a cut-off of production. The President reverted to the question of a possible Soviet drive for “pledges.” He thought that Ambassador Lodge should simply review the record of Soviet pledges since 1933 and subsequent violations. The President said that the United States should be ready to hit this proposal hard because many people are susceptible to the suggestion of simply making agreements not to use the weapons. Inspection is the key to the whole problem.

Secretary Dulles ended by saying that he has a question in his mind as to whether the Soviets will ever open up their country to the extent needed to institute this program. He recalled that they have practically closed down on cultural exchanges since last April.

G

Brigadier General, USA

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on August 31.
2. The Western working paper submitted to the disarmament subcommittee on August 29 (U.N. doc. DC/SC.1/66) is printed in Documents on Disarmament, 1945–1959, vol. II, pp. 868–884.
3. September 3.