292. Notes of a Meeting1

PARTICIPANTS

  • The President
  • Secretary Shultz
  • Don Regan

Where we are w/Soviets

Have process in motion comes from Geneva summit.

At this round modest progress.2 Tone more businesslike. Mvt. on substance as well.

Soviets accepted our proposal we tabulate when we agree/disagree.

Will buy 4,500 ballistic missile ceiling.

Regional dialogue—Armacost to Moscow,3 and we will probe Afghan.

P. Are we going to have a summit?

G.S. Getting to point where human rights not a block.

P. No bows or credit when they turn people loose.

G.S. Soviets want high level meeting. Want me come to Moscow. We should structure things for visit in late March or early April.4 If these productive meeting, it is a basis for summit.

G.S. Need regain initiative w/coordinated step to assert our agenda.

Clarify for Soviets and encourages them move in our direction.

We want entice them finish START and INF and accept agreement w/space compatible w/SDI going forward.

Preview INF treaty in letter to Gorbachev. Armacost set stage for visit by G.S.

President review progress, give a vision beyond 2 years and identify practical steps.

Timing should coordinate w/private initiatives.

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Nature of Speech—

Objectives:

1.) Reassert P. objective and program

2.) Reassure Congress and Allies P. at work and thinking of future.

Theme: Safer world

Willing to work with Soviets to accomplish.

What we achieved.

More cooperative relationship.

Gorbachev wants make improvements.

Lower risk of war.

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Stanford event May 14.5 Mulroney favors. Semi-favorable out of Mexicans.

Tower report handling.6 Whatever report we can see statement we need to make. New attitude toward Iran, and then review achievements and agenda.

Timing. Say you know truth. High policy went off rails when used arms to get hostages. Want to set straight.

1.
New NSC team in place and working.
2.
Attitude let’s get all facts out. Facts come out.
3.
No deals with terrorists.
4.
Peaceful solution to Gulf war. No arms to combatants.
5.
Join Arab friends in concern—ships in Gulf.
6.
Iran has leg. interest. They have recognize we do too.
7.
Don’t let charges undermine brave efforts of those who trying stop spread of Communism in Latin America.
8.
Future.

Catastrophic, Welfare Reform, Competitiveness.

In Foreign Affairs successes to build on.

Asian relationships strong.

Soviets and we working from same agenda.

Remarkable changes in Middle East. Will have initiatives in Middle East.

Central American may be great challenge. Policy of strength and diplomacy. No second Cuba in our Hemisphere.

Prosperity without inflation in context of peace used to be a dream. If Iran can be lofty which flawed in execution and set right then go on to achievements.

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Frank Carlucci Files, Secretary Shultz (01/21/1987–03/12/1987) [Meetings with the President—notes]. No classification marking. Drafted by Carlucci. The President met with Shultz, Carlucci, and Regan in the Oval Office from 1:32 until 2:06 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) A portion of the notes are printed in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. VI, Soviet Union, October 1986–January 1989, Document 21.
  2. Reference is to the ongoing round of Nuclear and Space Talks in Geneva.
  3. For Armacost’s March 20 report on his discussions in Moscow, see Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. VI, Soviet Union, October 1986–January 1989, Document 26.
  4. Shultz met with Soviet officials in Moscow, April 13–15; see ibid., Documents 3847.
  5. Reference is to a proposed trilateral meeting with Clark and Sepulveda at Shultz’s home in Palo Alto on May 14. In telegram 152936 to Ottawa and Mexico City, May 19, the Department summarized the meeting: “Secretary Shultz discussed what he referred to as the information or knowledge revolution and the large trends in the world today. As more countries acquire the means to participate in this revolution, political and economic power becomes more diffuse. Our three countries, he said, are well positioned to take advantage of these trends, however, because of their openness and freedom. Both Clark and Sepulveda agreed that there are other trends in the world which will require careful management if they are to be prevented from derailing these encouraging developments. Sepulveda expressed the belief that one of the greatest challenges would be to find ways in which to transfer the means to participate in the information revolution to developing countries. The discussion focused on the Pacific Basin in particular as a region which is both increasingly important in the world and which presents particular opportunities to the United States, Canada and Mexico.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D870388–0139)
  6. The Report of the President’s Special Review Board was scheduled to be released on February 26; see Gerald M. Boyd, “Panel Said to Find Reagan Was Told of Iran Dealings: Regular Briefings Cited: Tower Commission’s Report Is Also Said to Describe ‘Freelancing’ by North,” New York Times, February 25, 1987, pp. A1, A12, and Lou Cannon and David Hoffman, “Reagan Urged to React Decisively To Tower Commission’s Criticisms,” Washington Post, February 24, 1987, pp. A1, A12.