REFRODUCEB AT THE MARSHAL - SECREI LIMITED DISTRIBUTION - mm- I'm DECLASSHWED I Bichmewaa js we w October 30 1964 MEMORANDUM FOR Members of the Committee on Nuclear Weapons SUBJECT Next Meeting of the Committee Attached is a paper entitled Non- setting out our general UN General Assembly It represents a revision 0 two weeks ago and after our Comm and approve it I propose that it be submitte I propose that we meet in my conferen Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons tactical line on this subject at the ferthcoming 10 00 to discuss it Also attached are the informal minutes of our on October 27 Attachment the papers discussed ittee has had an opportunity to review to the Committee of Principals ce room on Friday November 6 at seventh meeting held A j 1710 t Llewellyn E Thomp Acting Deputy Under Secretary 1 Minutes of October 27 meeting NonuProliferation of Nuclear Weapons 2 Paper entitled Distribution To ACDA Mr Fisher SIP Mr Owen ACDA - Mr Scoville NBA - Mr Talbot White House Mr Keeny INK Mr Baraz Defense - Mr Barber Amb Smith JCS - Gen Powers - Mr Meeker AEC Mr Labowitz 10 Mr Gardner USIA - Mr Sorenson AF - Amb Trimble CIA - Mr Marengo SCI Mr Pardee EUR - Mr Spiers FE - Mr Mendenhall Mr White GROUP 3 Downgraded at 12 year intervals not automatically declassified SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION Wm m nsnnonncm AT ms rmnorm A cuives 7 w - me rmixsm saweg s g zga 2 seem LIMITED DISTRIBUTION MEMORANDUM SUBJECT Informal Minutes of the Seventh Meeting of the Committee on Nuclear Weapons Capabilities The seventh meeting of the Committee on Nuclear weapons Capabilities met under Ambassador Thompson's chairmanship at 11 15 on October 27 l964 A list of those attending is appended Ambassador Thompson opened the meeting by noting that the Secretary was disappointed at the lack of opprobrium in world reactions to the Chinese Communists nuclear explosion He circulated a draft telegram prepared by ACDA calling for actions to stimulate comments adverse to the Chinese test and after general discussion the draft telegram was remanded for subsequent clearance and dispatch Mr Gardner noted the danger of going roofer in downplaying the significance of the Chinese test He remarked the real problem was not the possible Chinese first use but their use of an atomic capability as a counterdeterrent neutralizing or believed by some to be neutralizing our deterrent power Mr Johnson urged that we not place too much strength on the limits imposed by Chinese delivery vehicles noting that even with some delivery capability the Chinese would be severely constrained from using their atomic weapons He also noted that we could point out to others the considerable vulnerability of Communist China to nuclear weapons Ambassador Thompson agreed that we should stress the overwhelming power of g3 deterrent and counterdeterrent He noted that the main negative impact so far was on the Chinese Nationalists which is of course a special case Mr Barber noted that certain briefings are now underway on the basis of existing guidelines Mr Keeny noted Japanese and Indian interest in finding some way to demonstrate their own technological achievements not necessarily in the military field in order to offset the Chinese test Mr Kretzmann inquired whether USIA is offsetting the Chinese achievement by attention to Indian and Japanese peaceful atomic energy progress Mr Hanson replied that they have been doing so Commissioner Palfrey read a telegram received from the Indian Atomic Energy chief Dr Bheba asking for data on fallout from the Chinese test It was agreed that unclassified data should be provided if available Mr Gardner inquired whether we expect additional Chinese teenasoon Ambassador Thompson and Mr Marengo replied there would probably not be for some time Mr Marengo remarked that there were limits GROUP 3 Downgraded-at 12 year intervals not automatically declassified steer LIMITED DISTRIBUTION REPRODUCQD RT THE NATIONAL ARCHEVES N MM M SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION Magi 4 DECLASSIHED Assam if HAM easiz on what we could do in exploiting the fallout issue because the fallout is in fact slight actions on the basis of varying local concerns of pushing for ratification of the test ban Mr He suggested that we attempt to play up adverse re He questioned the value Fisher pointed out that additional ratification particularly following the test helps to build a climate against atmospheric testing or against those who nonetheless test Ambassador Thompson agreed that this could be useful remarked that by taking the sting out of the Chinese test we had also necessarily reduced the intensity of reaction against it Mr Fisher pointed out that even thongh the military consequences are not great the Chinese can still be castigated for testing in the atmosphere Ambassador Thompson emphasized the problem which we have in dealing with calls for ChiCom participation in disarmament talks Ambassador Thompson inquired whether we should let the Indians know that we would not object to their obtaining assurances from the Soviets General Powers drew attention to a report that Admiral 3orshkov the Soviet naval chief has just told the Indians that they ought to get nuclear weapons with the Soviets Mr Meeker raised the question whether we should concert assurances Ambassador Thompson stated that at most we should sound out the Soviets on their View of the non proliferation question in the light of the Chinese Communism nuclear explosion in December decide on courses of action in this field Mr Barber suggested we should take the next thirty days for soundings of the positions of others and then He noted that the Chiefs are now preparing a paper with a December first deadline on military implications of the Chinese test a number of things we can course we can review positions on we should proceed with the Indian paper Keeny asked whether we should consider assurances to Ambassador stated that he believed Eresidential assurance and the paper on UNGA tactics pacific countries we should stick with the Mr Barber hoped we could take steps to prepare for the possible need to make additional specific assurances Ambassador Thompson noted that there are do in this field which can't wait though of the basis of new information For example general There was general agreement that additional assurances are not needed at the present time with the possible exception of Taiwan should clarify our thinking on possible assurances in extent that we can in advance of the contingencies Ambassador Thompson suggested we the future to the Mr Keeny asked whether it would be possible and useful to interpret the Presidential assurance to the Indians and others Mr Read noted that we could in a circular ask our Missions in the main countries what the effect of the Presidential assurance was and whether any spelling out were necessary SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION UCCLASSIHCD - aegis A3 SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION -3- In concluding the meeting Ambassador Thompson noted that this Committee in handling only the non proliferation aspects of the con- sequences of the Chinese nuclear explosion Nonetheless he noted again the rising problem of pressure for Chinese Communist participation in disarmament talks He also noted that the Soviets may have lost interest or may come to lose interest in an uninspeoted ban on the bomb G FM RLGarthoff pep 10 30-64 SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION - - REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHWES M authority gif mngm 9313313 5 I m SECRET I LIMITED DISTRIBUTION - 4 - SEVENTH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES Tuesday October 27 1964 at 11 15 a m Ambassador Thompson's Conference Room The following persons attended the meeting Department of State ACDA Ambassador Thompson Chairman Mr Adrian S Fisher Mr Raymond L Garthoff Mr Herbert Scoville Jr Mr Vincent Baker Mr Jacob D Beam Mr Wreatham E Gathright Sf Mr Robert H Johnson SIP White House Mr Lindsay Grant FE Mr Turner C Cameron Jr NEA Mr Spurgeon Keeny Amb William C Trimble AF Mr Leonard C Meeker Department of Defense Mr Richard N Gardner 10 Mr William G Jones IO Mr Arthur Barber ISA Mr Edwin M J Kretzmann SCI Col Jack Wagataff ISA Mr Rollie White Mr Benjamin H Read SIS Joint Chief of Staff United States Information Agency Gen G T Powers Joint Staff Col H R Greenlee Joint Staff Mr Joseph 0 Hanson Atomic Energy Commission Central Intelligence Agency Commissioner John G Palfrey Mr Louis Marengo Mr Allen M Labowitz SECRET LIMITED DISTRIBUTION This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu