16. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2
SUBJECT:
- NPT Ratification
In accordance with instructions from your office I conveyed to George Springsteen, Deputy Assistant Secretary EUR, the following guidance:
- 1.
- That the Department should get moving on its consultations with the Soviets on simultaneous deposit of instruments. (Springsteen said that a paper on this has been on Secretary Rogers’ desk for sometime.)
- 2.
- That after the Soviets have been approached, the Department can tell the Germans and other allies that such an approach is in train and we are awaiting a response.
- 3.
- That in informing the allies the Department should caution them against press leaks on our approach to the Soviets or any other press leaks suggesting that we want simultaneous ratification to forestall last minute Soviet reservations, because any such leaks would simply be taken as an affront by the Soviets.
Also in accordance with instructions from your office, I spoke with the German Minister (the German Ambassador is away for several days) and told him that in pursuance to your conversation with the German Ambassador, we would be approaching the Soviets on the matter of simultaneous deposit of instruments. I also told Oncken, as a personal suggestion, that it would probably be best for the Germans not to talk to the Soviets about simultaneous US/Soviet ratification since this would tend to arouse Soviet suspicions.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 366, Subject Files, Non-Proliferation Treaty (through March 1969). Confidential. Sent for information. Brigadier General Haig initialed the memorandum and a handwritten notation indicated Kissinger saw it.↩
- Sonnenfeldt briefed Kissinger on instructions given the Department of State regarding NPT ratification and on his conversation with the German minister.↩