Office of the Historian

3. Memorandum of Conversation1

Moscow, March 30, 1977, 11:15 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Berlin, Cyprus, Arms Control, CSCE, Bilateral Matters

PARTICIPANTS

  • UNITED STATES

    • Secretary Cyrus R. Vance
    • Ambassador Malcolm Toon
    • Mr. Paul Warnke
    • Assistant Secretary Arthur Hartman
    • Mr. William Hyland
    • Deputy Assistant Secretary Slocombe
    • Mr. William D. Krimer, Interpreter

  • USSR

    • Foreign Minister A.A. Gromyko
    • Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers L.V. Smirnov
    • Deputy Foreign Minister Georgiy Korniyenko
    • Ambassador A.F. Dobrynin
    • Mr. O. Sokolov
    • Mr. V.M. Sukhrodrev, Interpreter

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to anti-satellite capabilities.]

ANTI-SATELLITE CAPABILITIES

The Secretary said that in this connection2 he wanted to raise the issue of placing limits on the anti-satellite capabilities of both sides. We had noted that such capabilities were in the process of being developed. We firmly believed that an attempt should be made to stabilize the strategic situation by discussing such capabilities, and were prepared to enter into discussions with the Soviet Union concerning their limitation. In the interim, he would suggest that it would be useful to exercise restraint in testing anti-satellite systems.

Gromyko said he could not say that no problem existed in this area. He would be prepared to examine any proposal the United States could submit.

The Secretary thought that was good, because he believed it important that we do this.

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Anti-Satellite Capabilities.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Special Adviser to the Secretary (S/MS) on Soviet Affairs Marshall Shulman—Jan 21, 77–Jan 19, 81, Lot 81D109, Box 8, Vance to Moscow, March 28–30, 1977. Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place at the Kremlin. Drafted by Krimer on April 2; reviewed by Hyland; and approved by Twaddell on April 12. The conversation is printed in full in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. VI, Soviet Union, Document 21.↩
  2. Gromyko and Vance had just briefly discussed a possible international treaty whereby states would promise not to be the first to use nuclear weapons.↩