Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–15, Part 2, Documents on Western Europe, 1973–1976

305. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of Defense Richardson¹

Washington, March 9, 1973.

SUBJECT

• US Assistance to the French Missile Program

The President has directed the Department of Defense to proceed on an interim basis with limited assistance to France in the areas of (a) information on nuclear effects simulator types, characteristics and usage; (b) the sale of small simulators; (c) general hardening technology applicable to missiles, reentry vehicles and silos; and (d) Soviet ABM information.

All information passed to France on Soviet ABM systems should be developed jointly by the Director of Central Intelligence and the Department of Defense.

This authority for proceeding with limited assistance will remain valid until a basic study has completed and new Presidential guidance has been issued.

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Summary: The President directed the Department of Defense to proceed on an interim basis with limited assistance to the French missile program.

   Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–198, Study Memorandums, 1969–1974, NSSM–175. Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to the Secretary of State and the DCI.