◆ SpookStack

i United States in 1955 offered —its~open-skies --}-produce-no_radioactive fallout. In order to de- proposal—a, proposal which was rejected out of hand by the Soviet Union. It is in relation to the danger of surprise attack that planes of the type of unarmed civilian U-2 sircraft have made flichts along the frontiers of the free world for the past Z years. Research Program To Detect, Identify Underground Nuclear Tests Expanded White House press release dated May 7 The President on May 7 announced approval of a major expansion of the present research and de- velopment directed toward an improved capability to detect and identify underground nuclear ex- plosions, The present U.S. program has evolved from the recommendations set forth by the Panel on Seismic Improvement (Berkner panel).2 For fiscal year 1960 it has been funded for approxi- mately $10 million. During fiscal year 1961 it is anticipated that the funds required will be about $66 million for all aspects of the seismic research and development program. Known as Project Vela, the program calls for increased basic research in seismology; procure- ment of instruments for a worldwide seismic re- search program ; development of improved seismic instruments; construction and operation of proto- type seismic detection stations; and an experi- mental program of underground detonations en- compassing both high explosive and, where necessary, nuclear explosions. The planned pro- gram provides for investigation of all aspects of improvement that are considered to be feasible. Such nuclear explosions as are essential to a full understanding of both the capabilities of the pres- ently proposed detection system and the potential for improvements in this system would be carried out under fully contained conditions and would 1¥or a summary of the conclusions reported by the panel on Mar. 16, 1959, see BoLLeTiN of July 6, 1959, p. 16. May 23, 1960 } od G velop sufficient reliable data from the program, it is anticipated that it will be necessary to conduct ypes of geological formations. Recently the Soviet negotiators at Geneva con- curred with the proposal that underground nu- clear explosions should be conducted to improve the capability of the proposed control network to detect and identify underground explosions. They have also indicated a willingness to discuss research and development in the seismic detection area with the United States and the United King- dom. Agreement has been reached to convene a group of U.S.S.R., U.K., and U.S. scientists in Geneva on May 11 to exchange information on the seismic research activities of the three nations as s basis for future determination of the areas in which coordinated or joint research would be most fruitful. Government agencies including the Department of Defense, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Interior, as well as universities and private organizations, will participate in carrying out the United States program of research and develop- ment related to the detection and identification of nuclear detonations. Documents on Disarmament Talks Made Available for Reference Press release 288 dated May 3 The Department of State on May 2 made avail- able for reference the verbatims of the Conference of the Ten-Nation Disarmament Committee for the period from March 15 to 81, 1960. The release was made pursuant to an agreement reached last month by the 10 negotiating parties that verbatims of the conference sessions will be released on & monthly basis 1 month after the sessions take place. Release of verbatims of subsequent sessions will follow this procedure. 819 a series of explosions of various sizes in differing 1 ay a8 ee eae ree Contec pe monet Ee | Per rte oy re wre. ao