Office of the Historian

111. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger and Other Addressees1

Washington, January 15, 1975.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Attorney General
  • The Secretary of Commerce
  • The Director, Office of Management and Budget
  • The Deputy Secretary of State
  • The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
  • The Director of Central Intelligence
  • The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
  • The Executive Director, Council on International Economic Policy

SUBJECT

  • Presidential Report to Congress Regarding Nuclear Safeguards and the Export of Nuclear Technology and Materials

The Export Administration Act Amendments of 1974 include the following Section:

“Sec. 14. The President is directed to review all laws, regulations issued thereunder by the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Commerce, and other government agencies, governing the export and re-export of materials, supplies, articles, technical data or other information relating to the design, fabrication, development, supply, repair or replacement of any nuclear facility or any part thereof, and to report within six months to the Congress on the adequacy of such regulations to prevent the proliferation of nuclear capability for nonpeaceful purposes. The President is also directed to review domestic and international nuclear safeguards and to report within six months to the Congress on the adequacy of such safeguards to prevent the proliferation, diversion or theft of all such nuclear materials and on efforts by the United States and other countries to strengthen international nuclear safeguards in anticipation of the Review Conference scheduled to be held in February 1975 pursuant to Article VIII, section 3 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”

[Page 373]

The President has requested the Atomic Energy Commission to prepare the reports specified in Section 14 and to coordinate them with the other addressees listed above. The President has directed that the Energy Research and Development Agency (ERDA) assume responsibility for preparation of the reports when that agency comes into being and that it also seek the views of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency in regard to adequacy of domestic safeguards.

The reports should draw upon the studies conducted in connection with NSDM 235 and 255, NSSM 202, and other policies and plans relating to domestic and international safeguards and the prevention of nuclear proliferation.

These reports should be forwarded to the President before March 31, 1975.

Henry A. Kissinger

  1. 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.

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