Part X

DISARMAMENT EFFORTS AND THE PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY

A. United States Arms Control Machinery

549. PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNITED STATES DISARMAMENT AGENCY: Letter From the President (Kennedy) to the President of the Senate (Johnson), June 29, 1961 (Excerpts) 1

1

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am transmitting herewith, for consideration by the Congress, a draft of legislation 2 to carry out the recommendation contained in my May twenty-fifth Message,3 for the establishment of a strengthened and enlarged disarmament agency to make an intensified effort to develop acceptable political and technical alternatives to the present arms race.

For the past five months, Mr. John J. McCloy, my adviser on disarmament matters, has been conducting, at my request, an extensive study of the governmental effort and organization necessary to give effect to our national purpose in this field. He has had available to him the results of searching studies by individual members and committees of the Congress, the agencies of Government principally concerned, national and international organizations and eminent private individuals. During the course of his study, Mr. McCloy has consulted closely with Secretary [of State] Rusk, Secretary [of Defense] McNamara, Chairman Seaborg [of the Atomic Energy Commission] and other high officials. All of these studies and consultations have inescapably pointed to the conclusion that a new effort, considerably larger than our present effort, in terms of size, range of skills and authority will be necessary. This can best be accomplished by the creation of a new United States agency.

Following Mr. McCloy's recommendations, I am therefore proposing that a new United States Disarmament Agency for World Peace

1 White House press release dated June 29, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, July 17, 1961, pp. 99-100). An identical letter was sent on the same day to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. S. 2180 (H. 7936), 87th Cong. ; not printed here. See infra.

3 Ante, doc. 6.

and Security be established. Enactment of the proposed legislation will permit this agency to deal broadly with the whole range of disarmament matters, including research, policies, and programs.

The importance and broad scope of disarmament matters require continuing Presidential attention. The complex inter-relationships between disarmament activities, foreign affairs, and national security also require that close working-level coordination and cooperation be established between the new agency and the Departments of State and Defense, the Atomic Energy Commission, and other agencies.

The proposed legislation provides that the Director of the new agency function under the direction of the President and the Secretary of State. This arrangement will permit coordination of disarmament matters within the purview of the various agencies; it will give special recognition to the need for intermeshing disarmament policies and programs with the broad conduct of foreign affairs; and it will provide a focal point at the highest level of Government for the consideration of disarmament matters.

In the light of these unique relationships the Director, as the principal adviser to the President in the disarmament field, will have direct access to him but will, of course, notify the Secretary of State as to the occasion and substance of the advice he offers. In addition, the Director will report to the Secretary of State without going through intermediate authority, and he will act as the agent of the Secretary of State with authority under his direction, to act in his name. Also, I intend that he participate in all meetings of the National Security Council having to do with disarmament.

I am enclosing a letter from Mr. McCloy describing the legislation in more detail.*

550. ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT ACT: Public Law 87-297, Approved September 26, 19615

AN ACT

To establish a United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

TITLE I-SHORT TITLE, PURPOSE, AND DEFINITIONS

SHORT TITLE

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Arms Control and Disarmament Act".

PURPOSE

SEC. 2. An ultimate goal of the United States is a world which is free from the scourge of war and the dangers and burdens of armaments; in which the use of force has been subordinated to the rule of law; and in which international adjustments to a changing world are achieved peacefully. It is the purpose of this Act to provide impetus toward this goal by creating a new agency of peace to deal with the problem of reduction and control of armaments looking toward ultimate world disarmament.

Arms control and disarmament policy, being an important aspect of foreign policy, must be consistent with national security policy as a whole. The formulation and implementation of United States arms control and disarmament policy in a manner which will promote the national security can best be insured by a central organization charged by statute with primary responsibility for this field. This organization must have such a position within the Government that it can provide the President, the Secretary of State, other officials of the executive branch, and the Congress with recommendations concerning United States arms control and disarmament policy, and can assess the effect of these recommendations upon our foreign policies, our national security policies, and our economy.

This organization must have the capacity to provide the essential scientific, economic, political, military, psychological, and technological information upon which realistic arms control and disarmament

5 H.R. 9118, 87th Cong.; 75 Stat. 631. See Disarmament Agency: Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, 87th Congress, 1st Session, on S. 2180, August 14-16, 1961; To Establish a United States Arms Control Agency: Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, 87th Congress, 1st Session, on H.R. 7936 and H.R. 9118, August 24-26, 28, and September 7, 1961; S. Rept. 882, 87th Cong., Sept. 6, 1961; H. Rept. 1165, 87th Cong., Sept. 12, 1961; H. Rept. 1263, 87th Cong., Sept. 23, 1961 (the conference report).

6 50 U.S.C. § 1501 note.

750 U.S.C. § 1501.

policy must be based. It must be able to carry out the following primary functions:

(a) The conduct, support, and coordination of research for arms control and disarmament policy formulation;

(b) The preparation for and management of United States participation in international negotiations in the arms control and disarmament field;

(c) The dissemination and coordination of public information concerning arms control and disarmament; and

(d) The preparation for, operation of, or as appropriate, direction of United States participation in such control systems as may become part of United States arms control and disarmament activities.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 3.8 As used in this Act

(a) The terms "arms control" and "disarmament" mean the identification, verification, inspection, limitation, control, reduction, or elimination, of armed forces and armaments of all kinds under international agreement including the necessary steps taken under such an agreement to establish an effective system of international control, or to create and strengthen international organizations for the maintenance of peace.

(b) The term "Government agency" means any executive department, commission, agency, independent establishment, corporation wholly or partly owned by the United States which is an instrumentality of the United States, or any board, bureau, division, service, office, officer, authority, administration, or other establishment in the executive branch of Government.

(c) The term "Agency" means the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

TITLE II-ORGANIZATION

UNITED STATES ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY

SEC. 21.9 There is hereby established an agency to be known as the "United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency".

DIRECTOR

SEC. 22.10 The Agency shall be headed by a Director, who shall serve as the principal adviser to the Secretary of State and the President on arms control and disarmament matters. In carrying out his duties under this Act the Director shall, under the direction of the Secretary of State, have primary responsibility within the Government for arms control and disarmament matters, as defined in this Act. He shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of

the Senate. He shall receive compensation at the rate of $22,500 per

annum.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

SEC. 23.11 A Deputy Director of the Agency shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He shall receive compensation at the rate of $21,500 per annum. The Deputy Director shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Director may prescribe. He shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Director during his absence or disability or during a vacancy in said office.

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

SEC. 24.12 Not to exceed four Assistant Directors may be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. They shall receive compensation at the rate of $20,000 per annum. They shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Director may prescribe.

BUREAUS, OFFICES, AND DIVISIONS

SEC. 25.13 The Director, under the direction of the Secretary of State, may establish within the Agency such bureaus, offices, and divisions as he may determine to be necessary to discharge his responsibilities under this Act, including but not limited to, an Office of the General Counsel.

GENERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

SEC. 26.14 The President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, may appoint a General Advisory Committee of not to exceed fifteen members to advise the Director on arms control and disarmament policy and activities. The President shall designate one of the members as Chairman. The members of the committee may receive the compensation and reimbursement for expenses specified for consultants by section 41 (d) of this Act. The Committee shall meet at least twice each year. It shall from time to time advise the President, the Secretary of State, and the Disarmament Director respecting matters affecting arms control, disarmament, and world peace.

TITLE III-FUNCTIONS

RESEARCH

SEC. 31.15 The Director is authorized and directed to exercise his powers in such manner as to insure the acquisition of a fund of theoretical and practical knowledge concerning disarmament. To this end, the Director is authorized and directed, under the direction of the President, (1) to insure the conduct of research, development,

150 U.S.C. § 1523. 12 50 U.S.C. § 1524. 13 50 U.S.C. § 1525. 14 50 U.S.C. § 1526. 15 50 U.S.C. § 1531.