April 1986–August 1986
Arms Control in the Shadow of Chernobyl


220. Intelligence Report Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, USSR Subject File, 1981–1986, USSR: Nuclear Accident: Chernobyl April 29, 1986. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. Prepared in the Directorate of Intelligence. A note in an unknown hand attached to the report indicates that it was sent to Thompson for Poindexter, Pearson, and Bush. Shultz was traveling with the President to the ASEAN meeting in Indonesia, the G–7 Economic Summit in Tokyo, and meetings in South Korea and the Philippines from April 29 to May 9. Shultz wrote in his memoir: “The president and the first lady left Washington on April 25, 1986, for a thirteen-day trip to Indonesia and Japan. We made our way slowly westward. As we were leaving Honolulu for Bali, Indonesia, on April 28, distressing news reached Air Force One. Abnormally high levels of radioactivity had been reported by Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, all downwind from the Soviet Union. Experts in these Scandinavian countries first checked their own reactors and found no problems. Sweden demanded information from the Soviets.” (Shultz, Turmoil and Triumph, p. 714)


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

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860328–0820. Secret; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Parris; cleared by Negroponte, McDaniel, and Devine; approved by Ridgway. Sent for information Immediate to Shultz; see footnote 1, Document 220.


222. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Bali

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, [no N number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Robinson; cleared by Parris, Negroponte, Stratford, Bova, Wilkinson, and Pace; approved by Ridgway.


223. Report Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate, NSC: Records, 1983–1989, Chernobyl; NLR–170–8–27–2–3. Top Secret; [codeword not declassified]; Sensitive. Prepared by the NIO/USSR and others.


224. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Bali

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860330–0613. Secret; Immediate; Noforn; Wnintel. Drafted by Siegel (INR/SFA); approved by Lowenthal (INR/SFA).


225. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Tokyo

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860343–0808. Secret; Immediate; Stadis; Exdis. Drafted by Khalilzad; cleared by McKinley, Talcott, and Bleakley; approved by Solomon.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860346–0183. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to the Moscow Political Collective.


227. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Tokyo

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Top Secret/Secret Sensitive Memorandum, Lot 91D257, Eggplant II, Eggplant Travel Kit 1985–1986. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Timbie; cleared by McKinley and Talcott; approved by Timbie. In a meeting with Reagan on May 14, Shultz reiterated the points addressed in this paper. As Shultz recalled in his memoir: “I talked to the president at some length the next day. ‘The Soviets,’ I said, ‘contrary to the Defense Department and the CIA line, are not an omnipotent, omnipresent power gaining ground and threatening to wipe us out. On the contrary, we are winning. In fact, we are miles ahead. Their ideology is a loser. ‘They have one thing going for them: military power,’ I said. ‘But even there they have only one area of genuine comparative advantage—the capacity to develop, produce, and deploy accurate, powerful, mobile land-based ballistic missiles.’ I elaborated on this point, which I had made to President Reagan many times: ‘There’s only one thing the Soviet Union does better than we do: that is to produce and deploy ballistic missiles. And that’s not because they are better at engineering. They’re not. Our political system resists basing ballistic missiles on our own territory. But their ballistic missiles threaten our security directly. Not since we beat the British at the time of our revolution has anything threatened our country like the ballistic missile does. ‘So we must focus on reductions in ballistic missiles,’ I said. ‘Reductions are the name of the game. The only way to achieve reductions is through negotiations. The negotiation of large reductions in strategic missiles is the most important objective for the security of the United States. We have a tremendous amount to gain by bringing the number of strategic missiles down. We must start in 1986.” (Shultz, Turmoil and Triumph, p. 716)


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

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N860005–0359. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis.


229. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Manila

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860362–0646. Secret; Immediate. Sent for information to Moscow and UN Mission in Vienna. Drafted by Bisdee; cleared by Negroponte, Pascoe, Harty, and Collins; approved by Kennedy.


230. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Platt) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron May 1986 (2/4). Confidential.


231. Note From the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Ridgway) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, May 1986. Secret; Sensitive; Summit II.


232. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Mission to NATO, and the Defense Intelligence Agency

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860387–0267. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis.


233. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, USSR: General Secretary Gorbachev (8690389, 8690420). Secret; Sensitive.


234. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Solomon) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, S/P, Memoranda/Correspondence from the Director of the Policy Planning Staff, Lot 89D149, 1986 May. Secret; Sensitive; Summit II. Drafted by VanOudenaren; cleared by Ledsky. A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on the memorandum, indicating Shultz saw it.


235. Letter From President Reagan to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, USSR: General Secretary Gorbachev (8690389, 8690420). No classification marking. Under a May 23 covering memorandum to Reagan, Poindexter sent the letter for Reagan’s signature, writing: “Shultz has recommended that you send him [Gorbachev] a letter to clear the air following the Chernobyl disaster and encourage him to reply to the suggestions you have made. [See Document 233.] I agree with George that a letter could be helpful at this time. You can express your sympathy for the victims of Chernobyl, reiterate your readiness to be of assistance, endorse his call for more international cooperation regarding nuclear safety, remind him that he owes you replies to the suggestions you gave Dobrynin, and suggest a Shultz-Shevardnadze meeting, in Europe if they prefer.” He wrote in the margin: “I think you should give a speech on US-Soviet relations, but I do not think you should mention in the letter as George suggests. John.” Reagan initialed the recommendation and signed the letter. (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Head of State Correspondence (US-USSR) May 1986)


236. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, 4D, 1986 Soviet Union June. Secret; Sensitive. According to another copy, the memorandum was drafted by Burton and Stafford on June 2 and cleared by Nitze and Palmer. (Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, June 1986) A typed notation in the top margin reads: “Hand delivered by the Secretary June 3.” According to the President’s Daily Diary, Reagan met with Shultz on June 3 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) No substantive record of the conversation has been found.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N860006–0233. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.


238. Telegram From the Delegation to the Nuclear and Space Talks to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N860006–0230. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.


239. Memorandum for the Record of a Meeting of the National Security Planning Group

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 88B00443R: Policy Files (1980–1986), Box 19, DCI Memo Chron (1–30 Jun ‘86). No classification marking. The June 6 NSPG meeting took place in the Situation Room from 10:58 to 11:51 a.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) A copy of the official NSPG minutes are in the Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Planning Group (NSPG), NSPG 134 06/06/1986 [US-Soviet Relations]; excerpts are provided in the annotation below. Weinberger’s memorandum for the record is in the Reagan Library, Fred Ikle Files, Arms Control (President Gorbachev) 1986–88. Gates’ memorandum for the record is in Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 89B00224R: Committees, Task Forces, Boards, and Councils Files, Memos for the Record of Mtgs w/ Nat’l Security Advisor (1986).


240. Mock Memorandum From Soviet Foreign Policy Assistant Chernyayev to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron June 1986 (4/6). Top Secret; Eyes Only for the General Secretary. The date and classification marking are in Russian. Reagan initialed at the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Matlock wrote this fictitious memorandum to provide his assessment of possible thinking within the Soviet leadership. In a June 16 handwritten covering note to Reagan, Poindexter explained: “Mr. President, This is a translation of a fictitious memo by Jack Matlock that represents his best analysis as to what is going on in the minds of the Kremlin leaders. This style paper makes very interesting reading. I agree with Jack’s analysis. John.” Reagan responded: “Tell Jack—thanks. Can I have a copy of this for my own pleasure? RR.”


241. Action Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs (Woessner) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Executive Secretariat Sensitive (06/10/1986); NLR–775–16–4–3–7. Secret; Sensitive. The memorandum was sent through Armacost. Drafted by Murphy on June 2; cleared by Sell, Parris, and Palmer.


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

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860451–0230. Confidential. Sent for information to USIA, the Moscow Political Collective, CDE Stockholm, and USCD Geneva.


243. Minutes of a National Security Planning Group Meeting

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Planning Group (NSPG), NSPG 135 06/12/1986 [US-Soviet Relations]. Secret. The meeting took place in the Situation Room.


244. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron June 1986 (3/6). Secret; Sensitive. Reagan initialed in the top right-hand margin of the memorandum. In telegram 179564 to USUN and Moscow, June 6, the Department reported that Yuriy Vladimirovich Dubinin was “named the Soviet Ambassador to the United States on May 20, 1986. He has no direct experience with U.S. affairs, although he dealt with U.S. officials frequently in Geneva” as deputy head of the Soviet CSCE delegation from 1973 to 1975, and then as Ambassador to Spain from 1978 to 1986 when he was appointed Soviet Permanent Representative to the UN. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D860441–0133) A read-out of Shultz’s meeting with Dubinin was transmitted in a message via the NODIS///ADAM Channel to Moscow on June 12. (Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron June 1986 (3/6))


245. Memorandum From Jack Matlock of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Poindexter)

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File 1980–1986, Matlock Chron June 1986 (5/16). Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. Brackets are in the original. Reagan initialed the memorandum in the top right-hand corner, indicating he saw it.


246. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron July 1986 (4/4). Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Zarechnak; cleared by Simons. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. Shultz did not attend this meeting, as he was traveling in Asia. In telegram Tosec 110162/199602 to the Secretary’s Delegation, June 24, the Department sent this memorandum of conversation, as well as the text of Gorbachev’s letter to Reagan; see Document 247. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N860006–0461)


247. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Shultz in Singapore

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N8600006–0461. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Sent to Moscow for information.


248. Mock Memorandum From Soviet Foreign Policy Assistant Chernyayev to Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev

Source: Reagan Library, Jack Matlock Files, Chronological File, 1980–1986, Matlock Chron June 1986 (6/6). Top Secret; Eyes Only General Secretary. Reagan initialed the memorandum, indicating he saw it. Matlock wrote this fictitious memorandum to reflect his assessment of possible thinking within the Soviet leadership. In a covering note to Reagan, Poindexter explained: “Mr. President, Here is Jack Matlock’s latest assessment of Soviet thinking on SDI. John.” Reagan replied: “He [Matlock] should run for General Sec. RR.”


249. Memorandum From the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control Matters (Nitze) to Secretary of State Shultz

Source: Department of State, Ambassador Nitze’s Personal Files 1953, 1972–1989, Lot 90D397, June 1986. Secret; Sensitive.