LETTER TO THE HONORABLE CHRISTIAN A. HERTER (OTHERS) FROM JOHN A. MCCONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000700150018-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2007
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: August 2, 1960
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/08/31 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000700150018-2
UNITED STATES
August 2, 1
Gentle
Attached please f lad a statement prepared
by the General Advisory Cer ittee to the Atonic Energy
Cc asraali ss ion an the subject of I Capability in
easap Development During the Test Moratorium".
states at was prepared as a result of this statutory
cittee's discussion of the subject at their meeting
in Washington on July 26-28, 1960.
The reports of the several briefings mentioned
in the statement, including Dr. Eethe is memorandum, will
Le available to you should you desire to have
them.
S incer,iy yours,
-ala. oar oodpaater
c A. McCca.
DOE review
The Ronorable, Christ is A. Herter
Secretary of State
The Hono raaable Thams S. Gates, Jr.
Honorable Allen W. Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Age
The Honorable Gordon Gray
pectal Assistant to the president
f xr National Security Affairs
secretary of Defense
Approved For Release 2007/08/31: CIA-RDP80B01676R000700150018-2
 Approved For Release 2007/08/31: CIA-RDP80BO1676R000700150018-2
GI ILL ASYI COMMITTEE
Q the
U. S. ATOMIC #3E20Y COMMISSION
WashlAston 250 V. C.
USSR V WEAPONS 1
DURING THE TEST MORATORIUM
The Committee continued to examine the problem presented
at its May meeting on USSR Capability in Weapons Development
During the Test Moratorium. Representatives of the Division
of Military Application, the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory,
the Livermore Laboratory, and the Central Intelligence Agency
presented excellent briefings on the numerous aspects of the
problem. At the request of the Committee, Dr. S. A.
Bathe provided a memorandum entitled "Estimate of USSR and USA
Capabilities of Weapons Development". The Committee greatly
appreciates Dr. Betbe's efforts in the preparation of this
carefully considered statement. As a result of these briefings,
Dr. Bathe's memorandum,, and accompanying discussions, the
e submits the following comments.
The General Advisory Committee is convinced that
it is technically possible for the USSR to conduct,
without serious risk of detection, significant weapons
tests under the current test moratorium. We are fear-
ful that under these circumstances the USSR may be able
to surpass the United States in nuclear weapons per-
formance. The Commission should recognize that
continuation of the current situation increases the
risk that the United States advantage will be overcome.
We suet take vigorous action to break the current
deadlock either by securing a teat-ban agreement with
adequate inspection safeguards or by resuming testing
under such conditions as not to contaminate the
biosphere.
July 29, 1960
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