FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I


   (4) Question: Would known possession of the super bomb grossly
alter the psychological balance between the United States and the
USISR?
  Comment: They believe it would, and, further, that the balance
would be grossly in favor of the United States until such time as the
USSR had developed a stock pile of super bombs.
   (5) Question: What effect did announcement of the Russian ex-
plosion have upon the feeling of security of the American public?
  Comment: The Joint Chiefs of Staff are informed that this is a
question now under highest priority study by the Central Intelligence
Agency. So far as the responsibilities of the Department of Defense are
concerned, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that the Ameri-
can public now feels less secure than prior to their knowledge of
Russian possession of atomic capability and that the public expects
the Department of Defense to take action necessary to regain the
favorable balance previously held.
e. Moral Value.
  (1) Question: Would the moral position of the United States in
the eyes of Americans and the people of the world be changed by
knowledge of United States development of the super bomb to such
an extent that the United States position of leadership would be
altered?
  Comment: There are people of the world who believe in the integ-
rity and the rectitude of the United States in its position as a world
leader. Further, there are people who malign that leadership at every
opportunity. The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that the former will
look to the United States to retain its moral and physical leadership
position and will expect the United States to take whatever action is
necessary in order to do so. Friendly peoples undoubtedly would
accept the development of a super bomb as a requirement for main-
taining the world power position. They know that the United States
would never use such power for aggrandizement but would use it
in order to protect the security interests of those people who, too,
seek the achievement of international peace and security. Those who
malign the position of the United States will believe that which they
are told to believe.
  The Joint Chiefs of Staff hold themselves responsible for the
recommendation of such action as they see necessary to achieve a mili-
tary position for the United States that will, in the first instance, deter
a possible enemy from undertaking war and, in the last instance, win
that war should an enemy undertake it. They believe that it is im-
perative to determine conclusively the feasibility of a thermonuclear
explosion and its characteristics. Such determination is essential for


510