274. Memorandum From Michael Guhin of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2
SUBJECT:
- Updating the NSSM 157 Study, US Position on Chemical Weapons Prohibitions
The NSSM 157 study, US position on chemical weapons prohibitions, was forwarded for consideration in August 1972. On September 25 you informed the interested agencies that the President wishes to have the issues aired at an early NSC meeting.
It would be preferable to have a decision prior to the February 20 session of the Geneva Disarmament Conference. However, before meeting on this subject, I believe three aspects of the study should be updated:
- 1.
- The verification section should be updated to include analysis of subsequent Soviet proposals and any others deemed appropriate.
- 2.
- The shelf-life question should be examined further (e.g., how long can we maintain a capability with current stocks and what measures would be necessary to ensure such a capability?).
- 3.
- The section on our binary weapons program should include recent developments or problems and schedules.
The memorandum for the addressees of NSSM 157 at Tab A would request these three updates by the appropriate agencies.
Dick Kennedy concurs.
Recommendation:
That you sign the memorandum at Tab A requesting these three supplementary reports.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Boxes H–192 and H–193, NSSM 157. Secret. Sent for action. The memorandum was sent through Elliot. A handwritten notation that was crossed out indicates it was also sent through Scowcroft. At Tab A is Document 275.↩
- Guhin recommended updating three aspects of the NSSM 157 study to allow for analyses of ensuing Soviet proposals, possible shelf-life restrictions, and recent developments in the U.S. binary weapons program.↩