45. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to Secretary of State Shultz, Secretary of Defense Weinberger, Director of Central Intelligence Casey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Vessey), the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Rostow), and the Chairman of the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks Delegation (Rowny)1
SUBJECT
- Preparation for Round III of START (U)
Prior to the beginning of Round III of START, the President desires to schedule a National Security Council meeting to review the basic elements of the U.S. START position and the U.S. approach to this round of negotiations. We are currently planning to hold this meeting on or about January 25.
The specific issue papers currently being completed by the START Interdepartmental Group (IG) should form the basis of both a summary paper to be prepared by the START IG on the basic elements of the U.S. position and of draft instructions to the U.S. Delegation for Round III of negotiations. These two documents prepared by the START IG will serve as the focus for the NSC review on January 25. The START IG should complete its current workplan on a priority basis and should provide these documents (along with supporting, more detailed issue papers as available) to the NSC in sufficient time to provide for their processing and distribution prior to the meeting.
Military sufficiency remains an essential criterion to be addressed. Any approach or alternative approach recommended to the National Security Council should, as a minimum, permit the U.S. to develop and possess sufficient military capability relative to that allowed to the Soviet Union to execute U.S. national military strategy (if necessary) with reasonable assurance of success. The Joint Chiefs of Staff should be prepared to certify the military sufficiency of proposed alternatives to be considered by the NSC on January 25th.