Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969–1972

63. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon¹ ²

Washington, February 5, 1969

SUBJECT:

• U.S. Position for ENDC

The Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee (ENDC) is scheduled to resume its deliberations on March 6, 1969, in Geneva.

In addition to the NPT and the strategic arms limitation talks, the agenda for the meeting includes the following complex arms control issues on which the Administration does not now have a position: the comprehensive test ban; cut-off of production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons use; arms control on the seabed; and chemical and biological warfare. There will be considerable pressure on the U.S. Delegation to establish its current position on these and other important issues which have long been included in the general U.S. position on arms control. The problem is complicated by the fact that there appear to be major differences on all of these issues within the U.S. Government.

I believe that, prior to the resumption of the ENDC, these issues should be reviewed by the NSC since they have such far-reaching security implications.

The staffing of these issues does not fit within any of the permanent groups established so far under the NSC. The Committee of Principals, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State, which previously handled these matters has not been continued. I recommend, therefore, that an ad hoc NSC group, under the chairmanship of the Director of ACDA with representatives of the appropriate agencies, be established to prepare a paper for the NSC’s consideration on an urgent basis. If you approve, I have prepared the attached NSSM.

Approve NSC meeting on the ENDC [Nixon initialed]
Disapprove
Other

Approve NSSM establishing ad hoc NSC group [Nixon initialed]
Disapprove
Other

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–136, NSSM 20. Secret. Nixon initialed his approval of both of Kissinger’s recommendations.
2. Kissinger recommended holding an NSC meeting to discuss the issues on the agenda for the upcoming Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Conference (ENDC) meeting in Geneva. In addition to this conference, he also recommended that an ad hoc study group be established to prepare a paper on the issues likely to be discussed, including the comprehensive test ban, ending production of fissionable material, and seabed arms control.