Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–14, Part 2, Documents on Arms Control and Nonproliferation, 1973–1976

125. Memorandum I–21040/75 From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Ellsworth) and the Director of the Joint Staff (Ginsburgh) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger¹

Washington, March 6, 1975.

SUBJECT

• Support of ACDA Proposals on Nuclear Proliferation (U)—ACTION MEMORANDUM

ISSUE: (S/SEN) On February 18, 1975, Dr. Iklé provided me with his recent memorandum for the President (Tab A), which suggests several urgent anti-nuclear proliferation proposals.

DISCUSSION:

(S/SEN) In summary, the ACDA paper finds a number of nations giving out signals which can be interpreted as indicating that they are considering developing a nuclear weapon capability. Several proposals are advanced that could inhibit or delay this nuclear proliferation. They are (1) to use our influence in South Korea to keep that country from moving toward a nuclear weapon capability (ACDA recommends an urgent interagency study to provide policy options), (2) to inform the Japanese and Italian governments that we want them to ratify the Non-Proliferation Treaty in time for the May 5, 1975 NPT Review Conference, and (3) to take up key proliferation issues at an NSC meeting in the near future.

(S/SEN) Although I am in basic agreement with the ACDA proposals, I would consider the possibilities of using somewhat more forceful means of persuasion with the Japanese and Italian governments to obtain timely ratification than are suggested in the ACDA paper.

(S/SEN) With regard to other countries which are leaning toward gaining nuclear capabilities, we should initiate the “country studies” as recommended in the response to NSSM 202. These studies would investigate all the factors affecting potential nuclear weapons decisions in key non-nuclear weapons states and the preferred strategy for deferring such decisions. The situation in South Korea is particularly important and it is proposed that all possible policy alternatives be examined on an urgent basis.

RECOMMENDATION: (U) It is recommended that you support the ACDA proposals, indicating a somewhat more forceful position, as described above. Your support would appropriately come as a memorandum from you to the Secretary of State (Tab B).

R.E. Ellsworth

Robert N. Ginsburgh

1. Summary: Ellsworth noted that he had received a copy of ACDA Director Iklé’s February 18 memorandum to President Ford and commented that he was in “basic agreement” with the ACDA paper. Ellsworth recommended that Schlesinger support the ACDA proposals in the form of a letter to Kissinger.

   Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Schlesinger Papers, Box 20, Action Memoranda, March 1975. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Joseph Landauer (OASD/ISA). The date is hand-stamped. The memorandum was coordinated with the Assistant to the Secretary (AE) and approved by General Brown on March 6. A notation at the end of the memorandum in an unknown hand reads: “Iklé’s recommendations at clip. In accord with views you expressed with Amb. Schneider. OK. W.” Tab A, a copy of Iklé’s February 18 memorandum to Ford, is Document 120. Tab B, a memorandum from Schlesinger to Kissinger, is Document 128. NSSM 202 is Document 50.