FURTHER MBFR PREPARATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-16-5-37-8
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: September 13, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM FOR
Septexriber 13, 1971
The Attorney General.
The Under Secretary of State
The Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Director, Central Intelligence
The Directory, Arxxis Central and
Disarznarr~ent Agency
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
SUBJECT: Further MBFR Preparations
Ixa. prepaxati.on far the upcorxLing consultations with our NATO allies,
ere need to consider:
-- the status of substantive and pxeceduxal preparations for
MBFR within. the ATliaxlce, with special reference to MBFR principles;
.-.. the issues. that are likely to arise at th.e 4ctaber 5-6 Deputy
Fexeign Ministers' meeting and subsequent NATO meetings;
-- the altexnative approaches that might be taken by the U. S,
on these issues and an assessment of their advantages and disadvanw
togas.
The Department of State should prepare an evaluation of these issues.
and possible alternative approaches to dealing with them by September 17,
1971. Along with the results of interagency work currently underway
on various MBFR options and their implications, this evaluation will
be the subject of a Verification Panel (MBFR? meeting naw scheduled
far September 2l, 1971
/',~ 1~_-
1-IenryrA. Kissinger
DOS, OSD, NSS,
Reviews Completed
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7VIEMORANDUM
NATIODYAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET
MEMORANDUM FUR DR. ~,KISSINGER
FROM: K. Wayne' ~5rnith
SU]3xECT: MBFR Consultations
URG.LNT
ACTION
September 9, l 9? 1
You asked that preparation be started for a Verification
panel meeting on September 21 prior to the Deputy Foreign
Ministers' meeting.
I have prepared (Tab A) a memo to the Verificatian Panel
(MBFR) asking principally fox:
-- A statement of the issues that are likely to arise in our
NATO consultations this fall, mainly the Deputy Foreign Ministers
meeting on October 5-6 and the Nuclear Planning Group on October
26-27. This latter meeting will be attended by Secretary Laird.
-~ An assessment of the alternative approaches that could
be taken by the U. S. on these. issues.
This study request is intended to be nothing more than a holding
action against the State buxeacracy. It should yield a suitable, forum
fox you to instruct Jack,Irwin on the approach you want taken at the
Deputy Foreign Ministers!. meeting and the on-going NATO consultation
controlled largely by State.
At the same time, this meeting should provide an opportunity to
review the status of our substantive preparations for MBFR negotiations.
The status of this work is as follows:
SE CRE T
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SECRET ~ -
-- A set of four options have been defined in the precise
terms .necessary if they are to serve as the basis for negotiatian.
Other options wi1L probably be suggested by our analysis.
-- The preliminary results of agency assessments of these
options will be available by September 17th prior to our reformulation
of them. These initial agency products are usually not very good and
I airs sure more work will be needed.
-~ The analysis; "of related subjects such as collateral
constraints and verification should be completed by the end of September.
The overall objective of these substantive preparations is to have a .
variety of comprehensive MBFR options and an assessment of their
implications ready for Presidential consideration prior to the December
Ministerial meetings. Prior to such Presidential consideration, every
step possible should be taken to ensure that the President's ,options are
fot foreclosed by unilateral agency consultations with the allies. For '
example, you should know that NATO at the urging of the State Departxxient
has adopted guidelines far the Explorer that go beyond existing Presidential
guidance even though not dramatically inconsistent with it. In particular,
it specifies that MBFR shall involve:
-~ Reductions that are "both substantial and significant.'' The
meaning of "substantial" is not specified, but is an old cliche dating back
to 19b8-b9.
-w The area of reductions shall be limited to Center Region Af
Europe (thereby excluding the Flanks and the naval forces) with a
mi.nimurn area covering the FRG for NATO and the GDR, Czechoslovakia,
and Poland for the Warsaw Pact. The FRG adamantly opposes limiting
the area to Germany. No specific provision is xxzade far inclusion of the
three Western Military Districts of the USSR, although mention is made
.that "this area covered by the agreement could be extended. "
-- Reductions should involve both stati.'oned and indigenous
forces although "an agreement covering stationed forces reductions
(could) (should) be considered. ,(This reflects differences with FRG on
emphasizing stationed reductions.)
-- Reductions in nuclear forces would neither be precluded nor
xequired.
SECRET
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SECRET
The bulk of these guidelines, with the important possible exception
of the call for "substantial" xeductions, axe consistent with the
Presid'ent's views but, as you knave, this continuing process of agency
consultation with NATO can; get out of band unless it is watched caxefully.
One procedural step might be to establish a MBFR "backstopping"
conxnxittee similax to the. arrangement in SALT.
Hal, Sonnenfeldt and X .will prepaxe a moxe detailed evaluation of
the principles far you when the full draft is available. The senior
political advisoxs will b.~ meeting an them. again next week an:d they will
be submitted to the; Deputies in Octobex. -
RECOMMENDATION
That you sign the enclosed directive (Tab A) to the Verification
Panel (MSFR~.
SECRET
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