CABLE TO HENRY A. KISSINGER FROM ALEXANDER M. HAIG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: July 3, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
1P
T?:
FROM:
rin for Henry A. Kissinger (Saigon)
r*ndum received Tate Jast night
Gerard Smith which he urgently requested 1yr traaaezsmitted to you.
provided the fig oral reply
ram any rriodiicstt +sa nth you might
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
1. Concerning Smith's maab point, I hxve told
It N$Divi la nded to provide vehicle for tabling all
elerswats U. S. desire* for SALT outcome in one document. Question
wbother all those a lame s will fitly be iraacorporaated in single
dacurr ost or In two; or,
what form totality of agm4mmentts pro-
dated by SALT takes remains to be deter nbaed at later date. I have
m" that if Sam
? lsax ate ABM agreement pt
a question of whet
agreement
etngl* agreement, he should say that initial purpose is to agree on
rea?g to ASI 's and o nsive weapons with final form.
Is s s
left open for later determinaati .
In way of asubataizc e.
MORI c05138066 and
c03416708
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
49 IN
TOP SECRET/EXCLt SIVELY EYES 0- W-L-Y
Z. Re g Smith's second P
AI3 privately with. Somyonvv -- I understand
you would raise
vs not done so, sugg"t I ton Smith
h Pabrynizu
to approach
Semyonov privately ten him that U. S. Proposals on -,, S li
are being tabled
Lets express serious I rest in zero ABM?
.her instructions.
Attachment
AMH:Ids:7/3/71
p `" ET XCLVSTY Y Z' " $_ O LY
would seek
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
W
EYES ONLY MESSAGE FOR
THE WHITE HOUSE (Please pass on to Dr. Kissinger)
"a
in his June 1st press conference.
"the agreement limiting ABM systems," and you will recall
the Soviet insistence on the modifier "separate." It is
also.totally at odds.with what the President said publicly
separate offensive and defensive agreements.
However, tabling such an integral offensive/defensive
agreement at the outset seems absolutely inconsistent with
the'high level communication of May 20th, which refers to
DR? HENRY A. KISSINGER,
Henry:
Re NSDM-117--Instructions for SALT V.
The covering memo spaks of preparation and tabling of
draft agreement." Further on, the following appears:
"Agreements on offensive and defensive systems must be
concluded simultaneously." The attached "Detailed Statement
of US Position" seems clearly addressed to an integral
offensive/defensive agreement
What seems to be called for is opening with a draft
integral offensive/defensive agreement and ending up with
TOP SECRET/EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
While we would try to make the best case for this
abrupt switch from the American commitment of May 20th, such
procedure will lead to a sharp Soviet reaction and I should
think a legitimate Soviet concern as to the seriousness of
the American commitment of May 20th. I find it hard to
believe in the light of the,xecord that we would not have to
quickly
recede/from this position with attendant embarrassment and
There should be no difficulty in putting all' the
elements of the US negotiating position on the table in a
single document, if this is desired, early in SALT V,
psychological set back right at the start.
parallel offensive freeze agreement will be approved.
single integral
I trust that an official recommendation from me to
proceed on the basis of a separate ABM agreement and a
provided-this is not in a form pointing to a
offensive/defensive agreement.
I plan to handle this matter in the NAC briefing
Ln such a way as not to rule out either position.
NSDM-117 makes no reference to sounding out Semenov
privately on a zero ABM level and says any fallback from
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6
two sites and 200 interceptors must be authorized by the
President. I cannot take responsibility for raising zero
ABM without some further directive from the President.
'Regret having to insert SALT into your busy schedule.
TOP SECRET EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/20: LOC-HAK-486-10-14-6