Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XI, Arms Control and Disarmament

166. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Johnson¹

Washington, undated.

SUBJECT

• Talks with the Soviets on Plowshare

Recommendation:

That you approve a proposal to conduct technical talks with the USSR on peaceful uses of nuclear explosives.²

Discussion:

For some time we and the Soviets have been feeling each other out on talking about the peaceful uses of nuclear explosives. On March 18³ I told Ambassador Dobrynin we would be prepared to have technical talks with a view to exchange of Plowshare information, as well as discussions concerning the relationship of Plowshare to the Limited Test Ban Treaty. I mentioned also the possibility of machinery through which the US and USSR might provide Plowshare services to other countries. On October 10, Foreign Minister Gromyko told me the USSR was willing to hold technical talks.⁴ He was not precise as to their nature, and it was agreed that Dobrynin and Ambassador Thompson should work out the details.

There has been some delay in coming back to the Soviets because of the need for inter-agency review, but we now plan to proceed in this way:

We would suggest that the talks be technical in nature, with the attached agenda⁵ being used, and that they be held in Moscow as early as may be convenient, perhaps in mid-January. We would send a small delegation of technical people, headed by AEC Commissioner Tape. The delegation would be instructed to stay strictly within the bounds of the technical agenda, assuming the Soviets accept this as a framework for talks. If such talks take place and the Soviets make any formal or informal attempt to widen them, the delegation would say that this is beyond their terms of reference, but that they will be glad to refer this expression of Soviet interest in wider talks to the U.S. Government.

As far as public information is concerned, we are thinking in terms of a low-key announcement that US-USSR technical talks on peaceful uses of nuclear energy are being held, but we would not plan any communique or other public statement as to the nature or results of the talks. Appropriate press guidance would be prepared prior to the talks, since it may be difficult or impossible to avoid the fact becoming known that the talks concern nuclear explosives. Press handling as well as other aspects of the talks would of course have to be worked out with the Soviets.

I believe a limited probe and discussions of this nature might be very useful in terms of giving us better knowledge than we now have of Soviet interest and intentions regarding peaceful uses of nuclear explosives. Such knowledge could help us deal on a more informed basis with such things as the Ball proposal for an international Plowshare arrangement,⁶ other matters that have been considered in the Committee of Principals and elsewhere, and forward planning of our own Plowshare program. If technical talks take place they would be carefully handled with the object of avoiding any harm to our non-proliferation and other disarmament activities.

I would like to move ahead along these lines in the near future, and unless you think it inadvisable would plan to have Ambassador Thompson call in Dobrynin before the end of November and propose technical talks as indicated.⁷

If the Soviet response is to suggest a broadened agenda, extending the talks into political or disarmament areas, we will need to re-think our course, and I will make a fresh recommendation to you. It is also possible they might accept a limited agenda but attempt to broaden the talks in Moscow. In that case, the delegation’s instructions would call for referral back to the U.S. Government, and I would anticipate the need to prepare for talks of a different nature.

Dean Rusk ⁸

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, AE 6. Confidential. Drafted by Scott George (G/PM) on November 22. A typed notation on the source text reads: “ORIG hand carried to President by Secretary per S/S—JPWalsh.”
2. A typed notation on the source text reads: “Approved by Pres. c. 11/30/66.”
3. See Document 123.
4. See Document 160.
5. The attachment, “Agenda for Plowshare Talks,” is not printed.
6. Not further identified.
7. On December 6, Thompson and Dobrynin met for lunch at which Thompson reminded Dobrynin that Foreign Minister Gromyko had told Rusk on October 10 (see Document 160) that the Soviet Union was prepared to hold technical talks with the United States on peaceful uses of nuclear explosives. Thompson suggested at this luncheon that such talks be held in Moscow, beginning January 16, 1967, where AEC Commissioner Tape would head the U.S. Delegation of five or six technical experts. (Memorandum of conversation, December 6; Department of State, Central Files, AE 6)
8. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.