264. Memorandum From Secretary of State Herter to the President’s Assistant (Persons)0
Dear Jerry: You may recall my telling you that we should reach a decision soon with regard to the continuation of the Nuclear Test Suspension discussions in Geneva. On the basis both of Soviet statements and the current slow pace of their responses in Geneva it seems unlikely that they will be prepared to make any substantial negotiating moves or to seek seriously any resolution of remaining differences until they know whether a new administration is prepared to offer them a better deal on the outstanding issues. If a satisfactory resolution of remaining issues is not now likely, it would not seem to be in the U.S. interest to make concessions or offer compromises at a time when instead of enabling us to determine whether agreement is possible they might serve only to reduce our bargaining position for the final effort to reach agreement. Just as the prospects of agreement seem slight at present, so also do the prospects of breaking off negotiations or proceeding with nuclear research explosions in December on terms favorable to the West. In this connection it would be particularly difficult at this time to secure the assent of Congressional leaders to the fallback position on opening nuclear devices (without which the U.K. would not support us in initiating nuclear research shots).
In light of these factors it would seem advisable to seek a recess in the negotiations in the latter part of this month1 and to propose that negotiations reconvene in February. Since a firm reconvening date would be set we foresee no likelihood that a recess would have any serious repercussions in the UN. Prior to a recess we should maintain essentially our present positions with such elaborations and developments on relatively minor aspects as can be handled through the normal day to day instructions.
Before consultation with the British and the Soviets on this matter, I think it would be well to advise Clark Clifford of what we propose to do.2 My guess would be that he would approve.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Presidential Transition Series. Confidential.↩
- The Geneva negotiations on nuclear testing recessed on December 5.↩
- Persons had this memorandum retyped in the White House and removed the last sentences of the first and third paragraphs. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Presidential Transition Series) See the Supplement. He then reported in a telephone conversation with Herter on November 18 at 3:30 p.m., that he had given the retyped paper to Clark Clifford in the absence of an officially designated Department of State liaison from President-elect Kennedy. (Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, Phone Calls and Misc. Memos)↩