Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973–1976
91. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford
Summary: Following review of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee report on uranium tails disposition, Kissinger recommended to Ford that the United States require the return of depleted uranium from the Soviet Union.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 55, NSDM 275—COCOM Position on the Return of Depleted Uranium (Tails) from the USSR. Secret. Sent for action. Ford initialed his approval of the recommendation. Tab A, NSDM 275, is Document 92. Tab B, the August 7 National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee report, is not attached but a copy is in the Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Files of NSC Logged Documents, IF/NS File for the President, Box 2.
92. National Security Decision Memorandum 275
Summary: Kissinger communicated President Ford’s direction that the United States maintain its position in the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls concerning the return of depleted uranium tails from the Soviet Union and underscored that the United States maintain a cooperative atmosphere regarding nuclear matters within COCOM.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 55, NSDM 275—COCOM Position on the Return of Depleted Uranium (Tails) from the USSR. Secret. Copies were sent to Brown and Eberle. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature.
93. Telegram 15497 From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Summary: Ambassador Stoessel provided a review of the first week’s meetings of the TTBT/PNE negotiations in Moscow.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740291–0716. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Telegram 221218 to Moscow, October 8, and telegram 15373 from Moscow, October 10, are ibid., D740284–0658 and D740289–0008.
94. National Security Decision Memorandum 277
Summary: Kissinger communicated President Ford’s direction that the U.S. approach to discussions with Soviet officials on environmental modification techniques be consistent with the option in the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee report accepting prohibitions on military use of environmental techniques that had long-term, widespread, or severe effects.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 69, Originals—NSDM 265 to NSDM 280. Secret. A copy was sent to Brown. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature.
95. Statement by the U.S. Representative to the UN General Assembly (Symington)
Summary: Symington, in a statement made before the UN General Assembly, outlined several tasks the world community needed to undertake to curb the spread of nuclear weapons.
Source: Department of State Bulletin, January 20, 1975, pp. 72–76. All brackets are in the original. Symington made his statement in Committee I (Political and Security) of the UN General Assembly. Statements by Joseph Martin, Jr., U.S. Representative to the CCD and adviser to the U.S. delegation to the General Assembly, are ibid., pp. 76–80. President Ford’s message to the IAEA General Conference is printed in the Department of State Bulletin, October 21, 1974, p. 552. For Kissinger’s September 23 address before the UN General Assembly, see Document 84.
96. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford
Summary: Kissinger called President Ford’s attention to agency views on the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting the first use of chemical and biological weapons in war. In addition, Kissinger recommended that Ford approve a draft National Security Decision Memorandum that would limit or possibly renounce the use of herbicides in this context.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 56, NSDM 279—Geneva Protocol of 1925 and Riot Control Agents and Chemical Herbicides (1). Secret. Sent for action. A stamped notation on the first page of the memorandum indicates that Ford saw it. Ford initialed his approval of the draft. NSDM 279, as approved, is Document 97. For the 1971 SFRC request, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969–1972, Document 232. For the undated Report on the Geneva Protocol of 1925, prepared by the Interdepartmental Political-Military Group, see ibid., Document 236.
97. National Security Decision Memorandum 279
Summary: Kissinger communicated President Ford’s position on ratifying the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Kissinger indicated the President was prepared to renounce as national policy the first use in war of riot control agents and herbicides except in certain circumstances, and directed ACDA and the Departments of State and Defense to consult with key Senators in order to achieve prompt ratification of the Protocol.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 56, NSDM 279—Geneva Protocol of 1925 and Riot Control Agents and Chemical Herbicides (1). Confidential; Limdis. Copies were sent to Colby and Brown. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature. NSDM 78, “Authorization for Use of Riot Control Agents and Chemical Herbicides in War,” is published in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–2, Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969–1972, as Document 202.
98. Telegram 16802 From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy transmitted the text of a joint statement to the press concerning the recently concluded U.S.-Soviet environmental modification discussions. The statement indicated that the two sides agreed to continue talks after a “working interval.”
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740316–0889. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated Immediate for information to the Department of Defense and USUN.
99. Telegram 16952 From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy transmitted a final summary of the first round of the TTBT/PNE negotiations in Moscow. In addition, the Embassy provided comments on a possible future course toward completing a PNE agreement.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740318–1110. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Telegram 242830 to Moscow, November 5, is ibid., D740316–0401. The first round of the negotiations opened on October 7 and concluded on November 6.
101. Memorandum From the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll) to President Ford
Summary: As a corollary to the NSSM 202 study and the updated NSSM 156 study, the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee advanced several recommendations for a near-term nonproliferation strategy.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Institutional Files National Security Study Memoranda, Box H–205, NSSM 202 (1 of 3). Secret. Tab A, an executive summary of the NSSM 202 study is attached but not published. Tab B, the NSSM 202 study, also attached, is Document 57. The summary of the updated study in response to NSSM 156 is Document 52. NSDM 255 is Document 53.
102. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Iklé) to President Ford
Summary: In response to NSDM 279, Iklé indicated he had renewed discussions with several key Senators regarding advice and consent to ratification of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. He noted that the Senate would likely agree to ratification within the guidelines prescribed by President Ford, provided that he agreed to a “broad though not exclusive” renunciation of the use of herbicides and riot control agents as a matter of national policy. Iklé summarized the language of the proposed renunciation, approved by the Departments of State and Defense and the National Security Council Staff, and recommended that Ford authorize him to state the President’s intention during Iklé’s December 10 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 56, NSDM 281—Ratification of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 on Gas Warfare. Confidential; Limdis. Attached as Tab B to a December 10 memorandum from Kissinger to Ford, in which Kissinger recommended that Ford approve a draft NSDM authorizing Iklé’s statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. NSDM 281, as approved, is Document 103. Tab A of Iklé’s memorandum, a multi-agency policy statement, was not attached and not found. NSDM 279 is Document 97. NSDM 78 is published in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–2, Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1969–1972, as Document 202.
103. National Security Decision Memorandum 281
Summary: Following a review of ACDA Director Iklé’s December 6 memorandum, President Ford authorized Iklé to state his position on the matter before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and approved notification of appropriate allied governments of the administration’s position on the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 56, NSDM 281—Ratification of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 on Gas Warfare. Confidential. Copies were sent to Colby and Brown. Attached as Tab A to a December 10 memorandum from Kissinger to Ford; see the source footnote, Document 102. For Iklé’s statement, see Document 104.
104. Statement by the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Iklé)
Summary: In his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Iklé communicated President Ford’s decision concerning the Geneva Protocol’s scope and his support for the ratification of both the Geneva Protocol and the Biological Weapons Convention.
Source: Documents on Disarmament, 1974, pp. 822–825. A footnote in the original indicates the version of Ikle’s statement printed in Documents on Disarmament is extracted from Prohibition of Chemical and Biological Weapons: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-third Congress, Second Session, on Ex. J. 91–2, Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous, or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare; Ex. Q. 92–2, Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons, and on Their Destruction; and S. Res. 18, Relating to a Comprehensive Interpretation of the Geneva Protocol, pp. 11–12, 15–16.
105. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: In a meeting with French President Giscard d’Estaing and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sauvagnargues, President Ford and Kissinger discussed approaches to the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, Memoranda of Conversations–Ford Administration, 1974–77, Box 8, December 16, 1974—Ford, Kissinger, French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Foreign Minister Jean Sauvagnargues. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place at the Hotel Meridien in Martinique. No drafting information appears on the memorandum of conversation. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified or that was omitted by the editors. Ford met with Giscard d’Estaing December 14–16.
106. Report Prepared by an Ad Hoc Interagency Study Group
Summary: In response to NSSM 209, an ad hoc interagency study group examined policy options for development of future uranium enrichment capacity.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSSMs, Box 31, NSSM 209—Future Uranium Enrichment in the U.S. Secret. All brackets are in the original. The NSSM 209 interim report, November 8, and the analysis memorandum to Scowcroft, November 23, are both ibid. According to Ingersoll’s January 8, 1975, memorandum to Kissinger (Document 108), the NSC Staff circulated the report on December 19. NSSM 209, attached as Appendix A, is Document 79. Appendix B is attached but not published.
107. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Iklé updated President Ford and Scowcroft concerning the Senate ratification of the Geneva Protocol and the signatory status of the Non-proliferation Treaty and the Threshold Test Ban Treaty.
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 281, Memcons, Presidential File. Secret. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. At the end of Iklé’s first comments, an unknown hand wrote: “[A ceremony was held on January 22.]” On January 22, Ford signed the instruments of ratification for the Geneva Protocol at a White House ceremony; for his remarks, see Document 114.
108. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Summary: Ingersoll summarized the Department’s position on U.S. uranium enrichment policy.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSSMs, Box 31, NSSM 209—Future Uranium Enrichment in the U.S. (4). Secret. The NSSM 209 study is Document 106. NSSM 209 is Document 79.
109. Memorandum From David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Summary: Noting that the 1974 Export Administration Act required President Ford to report to Congress regarding nuclear safeguards, Elliott informed Kissinger that the Atomic Energy Commission required a directive from the Executive Office of the President to coordinate the necessary reports.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Files of NSC Logged Documents, IF/NS File for the President, Box 12, 7500237, Presidential Report to Congress on Nuclear Safeguards and Export of Nuclear Technology and Materials. No classification marking. Sent for action. Tab I is Document 110. Tab A is Document 111. Tab B, containing the text of Section 14 of the 1974 Export Administration Act, is attached but not published. NSDM 235 is Document 18; NSDM 254, April 27, 1974, concerns domestic safeguards; NDSM 255 is Document 53; NSSM 202 is Document 50; and the NSSM 202 study is Document 57.
110. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Ford
Summary: Kissinger recommended that President Ford sign the attached memorandum directing the Atomic Energy Commission to prepare reports regarding nuclear safeguards.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Files of NSC Logged Documents, IF/NS File for the President, Box 12, 7500237, Presidential Report to Congress on Nuclear Safeguards and Export of Nuclear Technology and Materials. No classification marking. Attached as Tab I to Document 109. Scowcroft initialed Kissinger’s approval on behalf of President Ford. Tab A is Document 111. Tab B, containing the text of Section 14 of the 1974 Export Administration Act, is attached but not published.
111. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger and Other Addressees
Summary: On behalf of President Ford, Kissinger directed the Atomic Energy Commission to prepare reports on nuclear safeguards and the export of nuclear technologies and materials, as directed by Section 14 of the Export Administration Act Amendments of 1974.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Files of NSC Logged Documents, IF/NS File for the President, Box 12, 7500237, Presidential Report to Congress on Nuclear Safeguards and Export of Nuclear Technology and Materials. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Anders and Seamans. NSDM 235 is Document 18. NSDM 255 is Document 53. NSSM 202 is Document 50.
112. Telegram 178 From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State
Summary: The mission reported that at the Department’s request, it had sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Luns summarizing both the TTBT/PNE and environmental modification negotiations in Moscow.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Secret. Repeated to all NATO capitals and Moscow. All brackets are in the original except those indicating omissions in the original text. In telegram 10042 to USNATO, January 15, the Department instructed the Mission to prepare the letter for Luns. (Ibid., D750016–0220)
113. Telegram 12344 From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
Summary: The Department transmitted the text of a note verbale that Stabler delivered to Soviet Minister Counselor Vorontsov on January 16.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750020–0208. Confidential. Drafted by Humphrey (EUR/SOV); cleared by Mark Garrison (EUR/SOV) and McNeill; approved by Wells Stabler (EUR). Repeated for information to the Mission to the IAEA at Vienna, USUN, and the Mission in Geneva. See Document 36 regarding the March 21, 1974, U.S. aide-mémoire transmitted in State 57208. The May 22 Soviet reply was not found.
115. Minutes of a Senior Review Group Meeting
Summary: The Senior Review Group met to discuss U.S. policy regarding the production of nuclear weapons and possible support for an international agreement on the limitation of chemical weapons. Participants agreed the working group would prepare a paper describing the arguments for and against binary chemical weapon production.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—Meetings, Box 23, Meeting Minutes—Senior Review Group, November 1974–January 1975. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. All brackets and ellipses are in the original except brackets indicating text that remains classified and “[Stapleton]”, added for clarity. NSSM 192 is Document 29. For a summary of the NSSM 192 study, see Document 76. The briefing by Walters, attached but not published here, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973–1976 as an attachment to Document 51. Elliott and Sonnenfeldt’s January 25 memorandum briefing Kissinger on the meeting is ibid., Document 50.
116. Memorandum From the Counselor of the Department of State (Sonnenfeldt) and the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hyland) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Summary: In preparation for Kissinger’s upcoming meeting with Gromyko in Geneva, Sonnenfeldt and Hyland reviewed several issues related to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, arms control, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, trade, and bilateral cooperation.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Lot 81D286, Box 5, Soviet Union, January-March, 1975. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The memorandum is mistakenly dated “2/7/74.” All brackets are in the original except those indicating text omitted by the editors. The memorandum is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XVI, Soviet Union, August 1974–November 1976, as Document 127. Kissinger and Gromyko met in Geneva February 16–17. For the memoranda of conversation, see ibid., Documents 128, 129, and 130.
117. Minutes of a Verification Panel Meeting
Summary: The participants discussed the possibility of a PNE cooperation agreement with other countries.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—Meetings, Box 23, Meeting Minutes—Verification Panel (Originals), February 1975. Top Secret; Sensitive. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified and “[in]”, added for clarity. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. The working group paper is ibid. Walters’s briefing is not attached and not found. An undated 28-page summary of strategy for the second round of PNE negotiations is in the Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—Meetings, Box 4, Verification Panel Meeting, 2/8/75—TTB/PNE and Nonproliferation (2). NSSM 202 is Document 50.
118. National Security Decision Memorandum 287
Summary: Kissinger transmitted President Ford’s instructions for the U.S. delegation to the PNE negotiations in Moscow.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 58, NSDM 287—Instructions for the U.S. Delegation to the TTB/PNE Negotiations, 2/10/75 (2). Secret. Copies were sent to Brown and Colby. The second round of TTB/PNE negotiations in Moscow began on February 10 and concluded on March 22.
119. Telegram 2091 From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy transmitted a summary of the first week of the PNE negotiations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750054–0710. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.
120. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Iklé) to President Ford
Summary: In light of U.S. intelligence reports on the status of nuclear weapons development abroad, Iklé recommended that the United States consider several high priority actions to hinder the spread of nuclear weapons. He summarized the current situation and offered recommendations for specific actions, requesting that the National Security Council take up several of these issues in the near future.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency Files, Box 1, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, February 18, 1975–July 8, 1975. Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to Kissinger and Schlesinger. Tab A, an undated assessment of South Korea’s nuclear intentions and U.S policy options, and Tabs B and C, undated recommendations to the Japanese and Italian Governments for NPT ratification, are attached but not published.