Memo for Files, Subject: Hardtack Series, Class "a" Weapon Letter, and the Disarmament Negotiations, Among Other Subjects, Were Discussed in Yesterday's Meeting the President and Secretary Dulles

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At a meeting this morning between the President and Secretary Dunes, the Secretary had discussed the HARDTACK series, the Class “A” weapon letter, and the disarmament negotiations, among other subjects. In respect of these three, the President had said that he did not wish to make decisions wit,hout obtaining my point of view and, accordingly, !lajor John Eisenhower, who is acting for General Goodpaster, telephoned me during the course of the morning and asked me to come to the President’s office at 2:30 this afternoon where I was ~et by !!m. Dunes. The President approved the additional oralloy for He approved HARDTACK with the understanding that there would be no public announcement until I had conferred L with him again, and this vie should be careful to impress );J ‘1 ‘ upon DoD. He asked me to try and reduce the number of shots 1 of an agreel;lent to suspend tests, since it would not be ‘w>, -x’ He approved the recommendation in the memorandum fromt .... ,..- U ‘~ L~> the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and myself = ,~.~,.-j He stated that he was not in accord with our reasoning “.:‘+ to limit the suspension to 12 months or even to 1S months as the Secretary of State had recommended, but to 24 months. He recognized the validity of my arguments as to the possible effect on the Laboratories but said that he thought I was unduly pessiri]istic. He said he thought we had enough of Prior to the meetina the Secretary of State had told me what the President was ~ikely to say on this subject, so that I had an opportunity to marshal my arguments, but the Secretary’s remarks had included, “Of course, this is not ucing to happen. The Russians are not going to agree to the ether terms.” BEST COPY AVAILABLE