Office of the Historian

64. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger)1

Washington, October 28, 1971.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Under Secretary of State
  • The Deputy Secretary of Defense
  • The Director of Central Intelligence
  • The Deputy Director, ACDA
  • The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

SUBJECT

  • Further Study of Indian Ocean Arms Control

As agreed at the Senior Review Group meeting of October 6,2 the study of Indian Ocean arms control should be further developed by the preparation of a paper which specifically analyzes the issues raised in designing non-strategic naval limitations in the Indian Ocean. Using as a point of departure Options II, IV, and V of the arms control study prepared as a follow-on to NSSM 110,3 the paper should concentrate on such issues as: [Page 209]

  • —the comparative impact on the U.S. and USSR of limitations on Indian Ocean bases and support facilities;
  • —the question of distinguishing naval transits from exercises and “show of force” maneuvers and of distinguishing all of these from a permanent presence;
  • —the comparative impact on the U.S. and the USSR (in terms of surge capability and reaction time) of deployment limitations on non-strategic naval forces, both with and without Indian Ocean bases and support facilities.

The issue of possible precedents which could be set by such Indian Ocean limitations should be weighed in assessing the attractiveness of non-strategic limitations as a means of dealing with the increased Soviet naval presence in the area. Interagency differences should be clearly identified.

The paper should be prepared by an Ad Hoc Group chaired by representatives of ACDA and DOD and comprising representatives of the addressees and the NSC Staff. It should be submitted to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs no later than November 19.4

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–060, Senior Review Group Meetings, SRG Meeting Indian Ocean 10/6/71. Secret.↩
  2. See Document 61.↩
  3. See Document 57.↩
  4. See Document 69.↩