Nuclear Test Ban Policy

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00080R001600030008-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 10, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

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Approved For Releas 20011 YO91SII CCA4RDR6tBO.lO8OiROQ1600030008- Z4 329
SECRET /SENSITIVE
National Security Decision Memorandum 256
The Secretary of Defense
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Director, Arms Control and
Disarmament Agency
The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
The Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs
SUBJECT: Nuclear Test Ban Policy
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The President has reviewed the results of the NSSM 195 study and
subsequent Verification Panel work. On the question of limitations
on underground nuclear tests, he has decided that an agreement
with the USSR to a threshold ban is acceptable in principle. Such
an agreement should meet the following conditions:
-- The threshold test ban should enter into force no earlier than
January 1, 1976.
-- PNEs may be allowed only if information adequate for proper
verification is furnished by the Soviets. In any event, PNEs must be
covered by the same threshold as nuclear weapons tests.
-- The U. S. should oppose the Soviet proposal concerning a quota
between an upper and lower threshold.
-- The U. S. can accept a threshold based on yield if adequate
geological information is provided by the Soviets and their weapons
testing is restricted to specific test sites. The U. S. position is that
the threshold must be at least 100 KT.
-- With respect to explosions above the threshold, the U. S. can
accept a provision allowing for no more than two unintended and
slight breaches of the threshold per year.
*NSC Declassification/Release Instructions on File*
SECRFT/ SENSITT'IVE (XGDS)
Classified by Henry A. Kissinger
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81B00080R001600030008-4
 Approved For ReIkWe 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81B00080R06W0030008-4
SECRET /SENSITIVE
The President has directed that the Atomic Energy Commission and
the Department of Defense develop a nuclear weapons testing program
which would complete all essential testing above a 1.00 ITT threshold
by January 1, 1976. This program should be submitted for the
President's approval by June 19, 1974.
Henry A. Kissinger
cc: The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff"
SECRET /SENSITIVE
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81B00080R001600030008-4