362. Letter From Ambassador-at-Large and Special Representative for Non-Proliferation Matters Smith to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Dear Zbig:

I believe it is essential that the President approve these shipments of highly-enriched uranium to Europe quickly. All of these cases represent US commitments to existing projects. They are not new commitments which our policy seeks to avoid. As you know, the Europeans are extremely sensitive to any signs that the US is using its nuclear fuel as pressure to achieve US objectives in INFCE or to force them to renegotiate the USEURATOM Agreement. While I have tried to assure the [Page 923] French and others that this is not the case, the Europeans read the already long delay associated with HEU approvals (none since last May) as US pressure tactics. Our non-proliferation efforts, as well as our overall political relationships with alliance countries, would be best served by prompt approval.

The Romanian case is also significant in view of our efforts to improve relations with Eastern Europe. In my view the proliferation risk here is negligible. Also, this case involves a firm US commitment.

Sincerely,

Gerard Smith2
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 4, PD–08 [4]. Confidential.
  2. Smith signed the memorandum “Gerry Smith.”