Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969–1972

330. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹ ²

Washington, September 25, 1972.

SUBJECT:

• US-USSR Environmental Agreement—Train Meeting with President

Russ Train’s environmental talks in Moscow went well. On Thursday, September 21, he and his Soviet counterpart signed a memorandum of understanding ‘providing for the implementation of several cooperative projects. He is currently touring various environmental sites of interest in the USSR and will be returning to the United States October 4.

John Whitaker will soon be submitting a schedule proposal to the President recommending that he meet with Train and, possibly, the Sierra Club and National Wildlife members of the U.S. Delegation. Whitaker also wishes to recommend that the President agree to have Ambassador Dobrynin participate in his meeting, believing that Dobrynin’s participation will have good domestic impact. However, he wants to be sure that you approve of Dobrynin’s participation before he so recommends in the schedule proposal.

The President will just have concluded his meetings and dinner with Gromyko, which will draw wide publicity in the US (and world) press. Viewed alone, the proposed involvement of Dobrynin in the environmental meeting does not pose a problem. However, there is a question as to how frequently the President wants to have “Soviet-contact publicity.”

May I please have your guidance on this as soon as possible.

RECOMMENDATION

That you indicate whether or not Whitaker should recommend Dobrynin’s involvement in a possible Presidential meeting with Russ Train in early October.

Yes. OK or Dobrynin to participate

No, No Dobrynin involvement

(NOTE: I personally think that Russ ought to let the President have a bit more of the action and the credit on this whole thin. All the reports out of Moscow on his mission had the flavor of the President having done a little advancing for Train in May and now we have the main act.)

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 217, CEQ I. Administratively Confidential. Sent for prompt action please. There is a check mark next to the option not to include Dobrynin.
2. Sonnenfeldt commented on the success of CEQ Chairman Train’s talks with the Soviet leadership and reported that a memorandum of understanding providing for the implementation of cooperative environmental projects had been signed with the USSR.