169. Notes of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Secretary of Defense Laird1 2
[Omitted here is unrelated material.]
L: We’ve got to shut ACDA people up on the toxin thing. They are saying we don’t consider toxins as chemicals. Everyone agrees they are chemicals. We aren’t manufacturing them and we haven’t manufactured them, but I don’t want to come out and announce that.
K: Could you send over anything they have said and I will slap them down.
L: The article in the Times came from them. We don’t want to give away our negotiating position in advance. Even U Thant said toxins are chemicals. And when the U.N. is saying that and a 14-nation team is saying it, I don’t know why we should take another position.
K: I’ll get that article and take action.
L: I called just to keep in touch.
K: You’ve been terrific and everybody here appreciates it.
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 361, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, 9–16 December 1969. No classification marking.↩
- Laird noted that there was no disagreement on labeling toxins as chemicals and told Kissinger it was essential to stop the ACDA people from discussing toxins.↩