White House Statement following a Review of Implementation of the Limited Test Ban Treaty Safeguards.
THE WHITE HOUSE today released the text of a letter from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, reporting their conclusions following a joint review conducted by the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission of the status of progress during the past 8 months on the implementation of the Limited Test Ban Treaty Safeguards recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and approved by the late President Kennedy.
In releasing this letter, the President reemphasized the statement he made today in a speech before the Associated Press that his administration is committed to the policy first expressed in the four points in President Kennedy's letter to Senators Mansfield and Dirksen on September 11, 1963. These four points were restated in the McNamara-Seaborg letter released today.
The President also pointed out that while an adequate underground testing program is, under present circumstances, essential to our national security, the United States continues to be alert to possibilities for the relaxation of tensions and the building of a permanent peace. Although we are testing nuclear weapons as now permitted by the Limited Test Ban Treaty, we still support a complete cessation of all testing of nuclear weapons accompanied by an adequate system of inspection to ensure both sides against violations. The United States Government is ready at any time to negotiate a treaty providing for such a comprehensive test ban.
Note: The letter outlined steps taken to implement each of four safeguards:
Safeguard 1--"The conduct of comprehensive, aggressive, and continuing underground nuclear test programs designed to add to our knowledge and improve our weapons in all areas of significance to our military posture for the future." Under this heading the letter stated that important information had been obtained on new weapons designs and effects through more than 20 underground detonations.
Safeguard 2--"The maintenance of modern nuclear laboratory facilities and programs in theoretical and exploratory nuclear technology which will attract, retain, and insure the continued application of our human scientific resources to these programs on which continued progress in nuclear technology depends." Under this heading the letter reported that $350 million would be spent in fiscal year 1964 on weapons development and effects laboratory research and that during the same period $25 million would be expended on improvements in nuclear laboratory facilities.
Safeguard 3--"The maintenance of the facilities and resources necessary to institute promptly nuclear tests in the atmosphere should they be deemed essential to our national security or should the treaty or any of its terms be abrogated by the Soviet Union." The letter stated that the two agencies were proceeding with the development of a capability to reinstitute atmospheric tests "on minimum reaction times" ranging from 2 to 9 months depending on the type of test involved.
Safeguard 4--"The improvement of our capability, within feasible and practical limits, to monitor the terms of the treaty, to detect violations, and to maintain our knowledge of Sino-Soviet nuclear activity, capabilities, and achievements." The letter reported that improvements were being made in U.S. capability to monitor atmospheric tests by other countries, and that studies were continuing in ways to improve detection techniques and systems for both underground and space shots.
For President Kennedy's letter of September 11, 1963, see 1963 volume, this series, Item 354.
Lyndon B. Johnson, White House Statement following a Review of Implementation of the Limited Test Ban Treaty Safeguards. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/239257