271. Editorial Note
In a letter to Chairman Kosygin dated May 2, 1968, President Johnson proposed that the Soviet and U.S. Governments announce during the debate then underway in the United Nations General Assembly over the Non-Proliferation Treaty “that they have agreed to begin bilateral negotiations on an agreement to limit strategic offensive and defensive missiles.” For text, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, volume XI, Document 237. Kosygin replied in a June 21 letter to Johnson that the Soviets “attach great importance” to “questions concerning restraint in the strategic arms race” and they hoped “before long it will be possible more concretely to exchange views.” The President responded the next day, proposing to Kosygin that they jointly announce on July 1—the day the Non-Proliferation Treaty would be opened for signature—an “agreement to hold talks on the strategic missile problem.” Kosygin accepted the proposal in a June 27 letter to Johnson. For text of their exchanges are June 21, 22, and 27, see ibid., Documents 247–249.