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

38. National Security Decision Memorandum 250¹

Washington, March 29, 1974.

TO

• The Secretary of Defense
• The Deputy Secretary of State
• The Director, Central Intelligence Agency
• The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
• The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
• The Director, Federal Energy Office
• The Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy

SUBJECT

• U.S. Policy Toward Purchase of Soviet Uranium Enrichment Services

The President has reviewed the study on U.S. Policy Toward Purchase of Uranium Enrichment Services from the Soviet Union, as forwarded by the Chairman of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee on December 4, 1973.

The President has approved the recommendations that the U.S. should take a neutral posture toward Soviet sale of enrichment services and should consult with certain allies to ascertain the necessity and feasibility of establishing some limit to these purchases to avoid significant dependence on Soviet supply. The timing and nature of the consultations should be carefully selected so as not to conflict with other critical energy discussions. The consultations may be incorporated, as appropriate, in the framework of the international Working Group on Uranium Enrichment of the Energy Coordinating Group.

The President has also approved the recommendations that:

—The domestic company which has so requested to be allowed to purchase Soviet enrichment services to fuel U.S.-built nuclear plants abroad, and that future similar requests should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

—The question of domestic purchase of foreign enrichment services should be held in abeyance pending further analysis and developments.

In addition, the President has directed that U.S. policy options, including our position in COCOM, on the disposition of tails from Soviet enrichment should be examined and a report forwarded for his consideration by May 1, 1974.

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Summary: Kissinger informed the addressees that President Nixon had reviewed a study on U.S. policy regarding purchase of uranium enrichment services from the Soviet Union and had approved several of the recommendations, including adoption of a neutral posture toward Soviet sale of enrichment services and consultation with allies to determine necessity and feasibility of limits on those purchases. Nixon also directed that a study of U.S. policy options on the disposition of tails from Soviet enrichment be conducted.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files—NSDMs, Box 55, NSDM 250. Secret. A copy was sent to Moorer. Kissinger outlined the options for U.S. policy regarding Soviet handling of residual material (tails) resulting from uranium enrichment in a memorandum to President Ford that is Document 91. The study is in Nixon Presidential Library, NSC Institutional Files, Records of the Staff Secretary (1969–1974), Box H–293, NSDM 250.