100. Memorandum for the File Prepared by the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Smith)1 2

On the 7th of May, Henry Kissinger spoke to me about Laird’s letter on Seabeds. I told him that we could go along as an initial position with a three mile limit, no coverage of crawlers, band to band, and in lieu of a specific no-inspection clause, a provision for a review conference after 5 years. I pointed out the poor practice involved in Heads of Departments writing to the President giving their position after an NSC meeting and mentioned how difficult this might make the subsequent problem of testifying in favor of a treaty. Subsequently, Kissinger telephoned me to state that all hands were now in agreement and that the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs would testify in favor of a Seabeds treaty.

GS
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, Office of the Director, Chronological/Working Files of G. Smith and P. Farley, January 1962–April 1977, ACDA-Telephone conversations Between Ambassador G. Smith and U.S. Government Officials, February–October 1969: FRC 383–97–10. Secret; Nodis; Absolutely No Distribution.
  2. Smith summarized his conversations with Kissinger regarding Laird’s letter.