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

298. Memorandum From the Counselor (Sonnenfeldt) to Secretary of State Kissinger¹

Washington, May 28, 1976.

SUBJECT

• FRG Response on Reprocessing Moratorium

Von Staden called on me to provide the German response resulting from your conversation with Genscher May 23, in which you broached the idea of a moratorium on export of reprocessing plants.

The essence of the German response is that:

—the FRG would adopt an “open minded attitude” to discussions of a moratorium in the June 3 and 4 London Suppliers meeting;

—a moratorium could be successful only if accepted by all principal suppliers;

—an important issue will be the duration of any moratorium (two years has been raised in bilateral talks to date);

—the Brazil and Iranian negotiations would not be affected retroactively by a moratorium;

—a final FRG decision would have to be reviewed by the German Cabinet and the appropriate committees of the Bundestag, on a schedule which is uncertain.

There is no surprise in the German response. It probably reflects the fact that the Germans have no further deals on the horizon beyond the current negotiation with Iran.

During the Giscard visit, the French told us that they would respond on the reprocessing moratorium and perhaps propose technical discussions. We have had no word from the French to date, unless Sauvagnargues told you something.

In preliminary discussions with the UK, the British have seemed less receptive than either the French or the Germans. They claim that a moratorium agreed by the suppliers could inject a confrontational aspect into the relations between the suppliers and recipient nations.

On May 21 you approved the instructions for George Vest and our Delegation to the June 3–4 London meeting. These included, inter alia, authorization for Vest to explore with other suppliers in bilaterals and if necessary in the full meeting itself the US approach to implementing your commitment to the Senate Government Operations Committee that we would make additional moves to promote restraint. This would include low key discussions of the moratorium on transfer of reprocessing facilities. It is highly unlikely that even a tentative agreement will emerge in London. Thus we will have an opportunity to review this matter again based on the results of Vest’s consultations there.

Recommendation

That you authorize me to inform Vest of the substance of the FRG response and authorize him to continue low key discussions with the other major suppliers in London.

1. Summary: Sonnenfeldt passed on, with comments, the FRG response to Kissinger’s suggestion of a reprocessing moratorium.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Helmut C. Sonnenfeldt, 1955–1977, Entry 5339, Box 5, Germany 1976. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Kissinger initialed his approval of Sonnenfeldt’s recommendation. A handwritten notation at the bottom of the memorandum reads, “rec’d 6/2. JK [?] will inform Vest on his return.”