399. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson 1

Mr. President:

Arthur Goldberg called and wished you to know the following.

This afternoon the Soviet representatives in New York came in with space treaty proposals “which go a long way to meet our requirements.” They will be meeting tomorrow to see if it is the real thing.

He regards it as “interesting” that they have moved on the space treaty because he feared after his conversation with Gromyko yesterday they would try to hinge progress on this treaty to other matters.

He believes they are trying to create a good atmosphere for Gromyko’s meeting with you next Monday.2

W. W. Rostow 3
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, United Nations, Vol. 5. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Bator and Keeny.
  2. President Johnson and Gromyko met on October 10; see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. XIV, Documents 178 and 179.
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.