261. Letter From Chairman Kosygin to President Johnson1
Dear Mr. President,
We already have agreed between our governments to enter in the near future into the negotiations on the curbing of the strategic armaments race.
My colleagues and myself attach great significance to the negotiations on this question. In fact this is one of the major questions of disarmament, which were discussed during the last 20-odd years.
A complex2 limitation and then a reduction of both the offensive strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems and the systems of defense against ballistic missiles would answer the interests of our countries and not only of our countries. Successful outcome of these negotiations would create favourable conditions for the solution of other big questions in the field of disarmament.
It is also, we believe, far from being all the same for3 our countries that the reduction of the strategic armaments would lead to a great saving of money which is being spent now for these purposes.
We have no doubts that you are now considering, just as we are, all aspects of this problem. We think that within one month or a month and a half the representatives of both our countries could start the exchange of opinions on this question.
Our view is that Geneva could be a suitable place for the negotiations. A concrete date of the negotiations could be agreed upon additionally and we will be glad to hear your considerations to that effect.
Of course I must tell you frankly that whatever approach to the solution of the problem of curbing the strategic arms race might be it is impossible to consider it in isolation from the whole international situation, from the tension that exists at present in the world. I think that you too, Mr. President, understand this perfectly well. That is why it is necessary to exert all efforts in order to ensure most favourable conditions for the success of negotiations on this extremely important problem.
Sincerely,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence File, Arms Control Messages Exchanged Between President Johnson and Chairman, USSR, Vol. 1, Box 11. No classification marking. A typed notation on the source text identifies it as an unofficial translation.↩
- The word “overall” has been inserted by hand above this word as an alternate translation.↩
- Above the phrase, “far from being all the same for,” has been inserted by hand as an alternate translation, “not a matter of indifference to both.”↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩