ATTACHMENT C Minutes of February II, 1953 meeting of Department of Defense service representatives TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION CCS 13 February 1952 CS: 385 (13 Feb 52) MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD SUBJECT: Meeting on BW and CW, 11 February 1952 1. Meeting was held at the call of Secretary Pace on the subject of increased emphasis on CW and BW. The following were in attendance: Hon. Wm. C. Foster, Dep. SOD Hon. T.K. Finletter, S/AF Hon. A.S. Alexander, US/A Hon. K.P. Bandetsen, ASA (Gen Management) Hon. John F. Fleberg, AS/N, Air Gen. C.L. Bolte, DC/S, Plans & Research, Army Gen. L.M. White, AF Gen. E.F. Bullene, Ch Cml 0 Rear Adm. E.E. Curts, OP NAV Col. J.E. Totten, AF Col. A.W. Betts, C/S, Army Capt. C.H. Coggins, OP NAV Capt. G.C. Seay, USH Dr. P.M. Whitman, OSD Mr. Tyler Port, OSA Ms. A.M. Burden, OSAF Lt. Col. C.E. Hutchin, OSD 2. Secretary Pace opened the meeting with a discussion of what he considered to be the three major problems before the Joint Secretaries, problems which must be solved in order to increase emphasis on CW and BW. The first problem lies in the progress to be made with respect to our capability for production of the agents. The second problem lies in the research and development necessary to improve our agent position. And the third problem lies in the development of capability to deliver the agents. He also added a further important problem imposing the question of what position CW and BW hold in over-all military strategy. 3. General Bolte pointed out that the CW and BW situation in some respects was not so bad off, that the two major limitations on increased emphasis in research and development are: money and personnel. In the discussion of what could be done in the research and development program with respect to the utilization of contract agencies, General Bullene stated that about 40% of our research and development in this field is not being done under outside contract. The big need has been for additional facilities. With Dugway now operative but still in need of housing, and with new facilities at Detrick nearing completion, we could expect to make greater haste in fulfilling our programs. He pointed out that the ultimate test TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Memo For Record, 13 Feb. 52 - Page 2 of the weapon with active agents often must be done outside the continental limits of the United States. General Bolte expressed the need for some sort of island test facility similar to Eniwetok, and possibly for joint use of the long range test facility in Australia. 4. The discussion then turned to the present status of our production facilities and it was pointed out that BW is now being produced in small quantities, as are nerve gases, but larger quantities of any of these agents cannot be produced in existing facilities. Production facilities for nerve gases are now under construction and nearing completion (80% complete). A BW production plant is being built but since it did not appear on the joint JCS and Munitions Board "S" Priority list, its progress has been slowed. Steps are being taken to improve this situation. 5. Mr. Alexander brought out the fact that as long as BW and CW continue to be considered for retaliatory use only, it will be difficult to establish firm requirements for production that will be realistic with respect to operational needs. Secretary Pace recognized this fact but stressed that some sort of requirements determination must be made under existing ground rules, the matter of the political aspect being up to the National Security Council. The relative characteristics of the various agents were discussed and to some extent related delivery capabilities were included. General White pointed out that the Air Force is more interested in the nerve gases than in mustard gas because of the greater lethality of these agents from strategic standpoint of usage against industrial centers. He expressed particular interest in the development of persistent nerve gases because of their potentially greater effectiveness. 6. Secretary Finletter pointed out that he was impressed by the fact that there appeared to be an unwillingness to reach a decision on the use of these weapons and it was again stated that such a decision must be made at the National Security Council level. General Bolte stated that the JCS guidance now available plans the use of these agents only in retaliation. In answer to a question raised, he stated that General Eisenhower has neither BW nor CW available to him in Europe today, but there are some qualities of standard gases in the Z.I., like mustard, earmarked for SHAPE, that can be made available on his call. 7. General Bullene described the delivery capability available today and pointed to the development of rockets to increase this delivery capability. He also stated that we were TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Memo For Record, 13 Feb. 52 - Page 3 making considerable progress in developing an automatic nerve gas detector, but that since nerve gases can be mixed with more ___ than could World War II type gases, attacks with these agents can be mixed in with normal artillery firm and be very difficult to detect by anything but mechanical or chemical means. Once detected, even a poor gas mask can protect against the nerve gases. He stressed the fact that no one gas meets all demands, that gases are complementary and we should have a family of agents. 8. Secretary Pace, in summarizing the discussion, felt it was the consensus of this group that: a. We are doing enough in research and development under the existing circumstances such as limited funds and personnel. Mr. Whitman has no comment. General Bullene agreed with this but pointed out that Chemical Corps did not get all the funds requested for this purpose. b. That present production effort is adequate in the absence of firm requirements from all Services, particularly Navy and Air Force. c. That we have a serious need for increased testing of these weapons, in particular, experiments involving humans. Mr. Foster said the Armed Forces Medical Policy Council had this problem under consideration. General Bullene stated that he also has a study group working on this problem, which study he will expedite and report to the Secretary. d. The national position with respect to use of BW and CW in other than retaliation must be reviewed and clarified. e. SHAPE should be queried on their plans for employment of CW and BW. 9. Secretary Pace requested that General Bolte prepare a memorandum showing what steps must be taken in this area and where the responsibility lies for each of these steps. It was requested that the requirements for coordination with Civil Defense be added to this consideration. 10. Defense representative stated that BW and CW readiness could be obtained, even under a national policy of "use in retaliation only," and that programs to achieve readiness should not be stymied because of national policy considerations. National policy could be treated as a subject separate from programs to achieve readiness. The staff study, jointly prepared by all Services, reported our present programs were inadequate to TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Memo For Record, 13 Feb. 52 - Page 4 insure preparedness, and that these programs needed the additional emphasis to give the U.S. some capability "on-the-shelf" to strike retaliatory blows should a decision be made to do so. 11. The Navy representatives (Captain Coggins) pointed out the fact that they had completed a detection and identification plan for BW which they have not yet issued since they recognize that this is obviously not a unilateral problem. A.H. Betts Colonel, GS Executive, Office of the Chief of Research and Development Office Chief of Staff, U.S. Army cc: OSD G-3 G-4 Oml C