167. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan1
Washington, September 16, 1988
SUBJECT
-
Gorbachev Letter on
Krasnoyarsk
Soviet Ambassador Dubinin called on me
today. He delivered a Gorbachev
letter responding to your August 12 message2 on Krasnoyarsk (an unofficial
translation is attached). Gorbachev:
—writes that we should not let “mutual” complaints about ABM Treaty compliance undermine what we
have achieved;
—recalls the Soviet offer to dismantle the “equipment” at Krasnoyarsk if
we agree to observe the ABM Treaty as
signed in 1972;
—repeats alleged Soviet concerns about U.S. radars at Thule and Fylingdales Moor (although without
linking these directly to Krasnoyarsk) and the Soviet request to visit
the Thule radar; and
—offers to discuss measures to convert Krasnoyarsk into an international
space research center, and invites U.S.
scientists to travel there to explore this.
There is no suggestion of any physical changes to the radar facility in the
process of its proposed conversion to a “center for international
cooperation in peaceful space activities.” I put the question directly to
Dubinin; he could not answer.
The Soviets appear to be seeking a fig leaf to resolve the Krasnoyarsk issue.
At first glance, this seems little more than a variation of the “joint
manning” idea informally floated to General Burns during the ABM Treaty
review. If so, our response can only be negative: it neither
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corrects the violation nor lengthens the
lead-time for ABM breakout that the Soviets
have gained through construction of Krasnoyarsk to date. In fact, conversion
of the radar to a “research center” would presumably entail our agreement to
completion and activation of the radar.
Whether Gorbachev’s letter represents
the final Soviet word or an opening gambit setting the stage for Shevardnadze to offer something more
substantial next week remains to be seen. I intend to press Shevardnadze hard on meeting our concern
over Krasnoyarsk, and tell him that this idea does not suffice.
Attachment
Letter From Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to President Reagan
3
Moscow, September 13, 1988
Dear Mr. President,
I have read your letter of August 12 very carefully.
I would like, in the frank and constructive spirit that characterizes our
dialogue, to share with you my thoughts regarding the question of ABM Treaty compliance raised in your
letter.
This question has been repeatedly discussed both by ourselves and by our
experts, most recently during the latest consultations to review the
ABM Treaty. In the course of the
negotiations the sides have stated their concerns regarding compliance
with the treaty. Regrettably, thus far the US representatives have failed to provide persuasive
answers to the questions we raised, while the Soviet side has clarified
in great detail the situation surrounding the radar which was under
construction in the Krasnoyarsk area, having reiterated that it is not a
missile attack warning radar. In light of our answers the complaints
expressed again and again by the US side
cause perplexity and suggest that, perhaps, there are some other, more
far-reaching calculations behind them.
I think you will agree with me that it would be impardonable if our
mutual complaints about the violations of the ABM Treaty were to undermine all that we, thanks to the
efforts of both sides, have
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succeeded in accomplishing to improve US-Soviet relations. With the aim of not allowing this to occur
we have, as a gesture of good will, not only discontinued the
construction of the Krasnoyarsk radar, but have also expressed
willingness to dismantle its equipment, if our countries reach agreement
to observe the ABM Treaty as signed in
1972. Such a solution would represent a true confirmation of the
commitment of the sides to the ABM
Treaty, a commitment about which you, Mr. President, have repeatedly
spoken and written to me.
At the same time I cannot fail to emphasize that we are increasingly
concerned over the situation that has arisen in connection with the
construction of US radars in Thule and
Fylingdales Moor. In the assessment of our experts, the now operational
Thule radar is a clear violation of the ABM Treaty. Your specialists deny that. But, as you know,
an American proverb says: “Seeing is believing”. So we are hoping that
you will agree to a visit of this radar by Soviet specialists.
As for the Krasnoyarsk radar, I wish to inform you of our decision which
will once and for all put an end to all speculations about its nature,
to wit: we are ready to establish on the base of this radar a center for
international cooperation in the interest of the peaceful use of outer
space. This center could be incorporated into the system of a World
Space Organization which we proposed, so as to make it possible for all
states to participate in the peaceful exploration and use of outer
space.
We are prepared to discuss with United States’ representatives, as well
as with other interested countries, the concrete measures that would
make it possible to transform the Krasnoyarsk radar into a Center for
International Cooperation in Peaceful Space Activities. I would like,
through your intermediary, to invite American scientists to visit the
Krasnoyarsk radar in order to discuss the questions connected
therewith.
In conclusion, I wish to express my hope that your administration, Mr.
President, will be guided in its practical actions by the desire to
preserve the ABM Treaty as an important
instrument for maintaining strategic stability in conditions where our
two countries—I believe the agreement on that is not far away—will be
implementing the 50 percent reduction in their strategic offensive arms.
In this context, we will expect the US
side also to take practical steps which would remove our concern over
the US radars in Greenland and Great
Britain.
Respectfully,
