94. Memorandum of Conversation Between the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Smith) and Secretary of State Rogers1 2
[Omitted here is discussion of SALT]
I pointed out to him the difficulties that the Laird approach to NSC procedure would give us in future years if it came to a question of Congressional approval. I told him I understand Laird is preparing a memo urging the President not to accept the seabeds treaty but if it has to be accepted, to adopt all of the defense positions. The Secretary said he thought we could live with a ban just on fixed installations. He prefers the ban to ban formulation. He thinks it would be impossible to get a treaty without a verification provision through the Congress. He thinks the three mile limit would look foolish. I told him that Kissinger had indicated he would be getting in touch with me shortly about how one could tailor a decision that might give the Department of Defense some comfort.
- Source: Washington National Records Center, Office of the Director, Chronological/Working Files of G. Smith and P. Farley: FRC 383–97–10, January 1962–April 1977, Smith Correspondence with Secretary of State Rogers concerning SALT, NPT and the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Committee (ENDC), February 1969–May 1970. Secret; Exdis.↩
- Smith and Rogers discussed the problems associated with Laird’s position concerning the proposed seabed treaty, specifically the potential future problems associated with Congressional approval of the agreement.↩