Chemical and Biological Weapons; The Sverdlovsk Incident


91. Telegram From the Mission in Geneva to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780376–0142. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information; Priority to Bonn. Sent for information to London, Moscow, Paris, and USUN.


92. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Slocombe) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–81–0201, Box 39, 370.64 CBR Oct 1978. Secret.


93. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany

[Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780463–1054. Secret; Immediate. 7 pages not declassified.]


94. Telegram From the Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780468–0531. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to USUN, London, Paris, and USNATO.


95. Memorandum From Jessica Tuchman Mathews and Leslie G. Denend of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 100, SCC 170, Chemical Weapons, 12/1/78. Secret. Sent for action.


96. Minutes of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 100, SCC 170, Chemical Weapons, 12/1/78. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.


97. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 100, SCC 170, Chemical Weapons, 12/1/78. Secret. Sent for action. Carter initialed the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.


98. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790077–0233. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Moscow, London, Bonn, Paris, and USNATO. Drafted by Robert Mikulak (ACDA/MA/AT); Robert Strand (ACDA/MA/IR), Roger Booth (ACDA/MA/AT), (Merle MacDonald (OSD), Harry Goodall (JCS), [name not declassified] (CIA/OSR), Les Denend (NSC), David Carlson (PM/DCA), Michael Matheson (L/PM), and [name not declassified] (CIA); and approved by Lawrence Finch (ACDA/MA).


99. Telegram From the Mission in Geneva to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790180–0536. Confidential; Priority. Also sent to Bonn, London, Moscow, and USNATO.


100. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 61, Chemical/Biological Weapons. Secret. Copy sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a June 30 memorandum to Brown, Brzezinski wrote that the “views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff” had “been noted and will be brought to the attention of the President. I suggest we examine this question in connection with the FY 1981 Budget review process.” (Ibid.)


101. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Vance Exdis Memcons 1979. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Krimer on June 20; and approved by Aaron. The meeting took place at the Soviet Embassy. The memorandum is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 203.


102. Telegram From the Mission in Geneva to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790401–1186. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Moscow. The tenth round of negotiations began on July 16. (Telegram 12183 from the Mission in Geneva, July 18; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790327–0968)


103. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harold Brown Papers, Box 61, Chemical/Biological Weapons. Secret.


104. Summary of Conclusions of a Mini-Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Box 81, Chemical and Biological Warfare, 1–6/80. Confidential. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.


105. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Box 81, Chemical and Warfare, 1–6/80. Secret. Sent for information. Carter initialed the top of the memorandum.


106. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800044–0544. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Robert Mikulak (ACDA/MA/AT); and approved by Flowerree (ACDA/MA), Oplinger (NSC), Ronald Lorton (NEA/PAB), (Merle MacDonald (OSD), Steven Steiner (PM/DCA), Edmund McWilliams (EA/VLC), M. Christine Vick (EUR/RPM), and Manuel Sanches (JCS). Sent for information to London, Bonn, USUN, USNATO, the Mission in Geneva, Moscow, and Vientiane.


107. Telegram From Embassy in France to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800051–0597. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Bonn, London, the Mission in Geneva, USNATO, USUN, and Moscow.


108. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800077–0811. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Robert Mikulak (ACDA/MA/AT); cleared by Flowerree (ACDA/MA), David Carlson (PM/DCA), Oplinger (NSC), Merle MacDonald (OSD), Harry Wilson (JCS), and [name not declassified]; and approved by Thomas Davies (ACDA/MA). Sent for information to Moscow, USNATO, London, Bonn, and Paris.


109. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Earle) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 110, SCC 288, USSR CBW Convention, 3/14/80. Secret.


110. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Tarnoff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 110, SCC 288, USSR CBW Convention, 3/14/80. Secret. Copies were sent to the ACDA, JCS, OSD, and the CIA.


111. Intelligence Assessment

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 110, SCC 288, USSR CBW Convention, 3/14/80. Secret. The Department of State forwarded the assessment to Moscow and the Mission in Geneva in telegram 68653, March 15. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880025–0592)


112. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 110, SCC 288, USSR CBW Convention, 3/14/80. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.


113. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880025–0588. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Sent immediate to the Mission in Geneva. Drafted by Mark Palmer (PM/DCA) and Martin Mclean (EUR/SOV); cleared by Aaron (NSC), Robert Martin (INR/PMT), Marshall Brement (NSC), Shulman (S/MS), Earle (ACDA), Peter Wilson (S/P), Slocombe (DUSD/PP), John Taylor (S/S–O), J.S. (Pustay), McCrory (CIA), Jerome Kahan (PM), and Robert Barry (EUR); and approved by Christopher (D).


114. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880025–0580. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Later that day, Watson sent an Eyes Only telegram to Vance and said “I thought I ought to tell you personally that if we cannot back up the Sverdlovsk questions with substance, or if the Soviets are able to prove their denial or shake our position in any way, we will further reduce our precarious relationship with this country.” (Telegram 4276 from Moscow, March 17; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P900077–1675)


115. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Earle) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 83, USSR: 3/20–31/80. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Brown, Jones, Turner, and Brzezinski.


116. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 83, USSR: 3/20–31/80. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room.


117. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Memcons: April, May, June 1980. Secret. Drafted by Vest; and approved by Vance. The memorandum is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 272.


118. Telegram From the Mission in Geneva to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800150–0125. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to Moscow.


119. Telegram From the Mission in Geneva to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800155–0842. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to London, Moscow, USNATO, and USUN.


120. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800156–0291. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Priority to the Mission in Geneva. Drafted by Robert Einhorn (ACDA); cleared by Aaron, Jerome Kahan (PM), Keeny, Slocombe (OSD), Michael Finnarelli (OSTP), James Granger (JCS), Shulman, Peter Wilson (S/P), Robert Barry (EUR), McCrory, and Robert Steven (S/S–O); and approved by Vance.