Office of the Historian

169. Memorandum From Secretary of State Shultz to President Reagan1

Washington, September 21, 1988

SUBJECT

  • Shevardnadze’s Speech to Foreign Ministry

On July 25 Shevardnadze made a remarkable speech to the professional staff at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs (others were present as well, including Marshal Akhromeyev).2 We have just received the English translation of the lengthy speech; attached are some noteworthy excerpts.

Shevardnadze is scathing in his criticism of past Soviet practices and behavior. He recognizes that the Soviet image was undermined by statements such as Khrushchev’s “we will bury you,” and by “incorrect steps against friends”—a reference to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.

His remarks are also illuminating with respect to current Soviet thinking. For example, he asks rhetorically what the Soviet Union thought it was doing as it tried “over the last fifteen years to achieve a ‛chemical rampart’.” He admits that the Soviet build-up of chemical weapons “cost colossal amounts of money.” In a comment revealing of the man, Shevardnadze asks “what impressions have we established of ourselves and our intentions in continuing to stockpile weapons which can only be described as the most barbarian?”

These are only a few examples of the stunning admissions and cases of “new thinking” in Shevardnadze’s speech. You might find it interesting to look through the excerpts prior to your meeting with him on Friday.3

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Shultz Papers, 1988 Sept. 21 Mtg w/ President. Confidential. Drafted by Wolff; cleared by Pifer and Evans. The memorandum is an unsigned copy. There is no indication Reagan saw the memorandum, although he wrote in his diary the day he met with Shultz about Shevardnadze’s upcoming visit. (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, Vol. II, Number 1985–1989, p. 949) According to the President’s Daily Diary, Reagan and Shultz met in the Oval Office from 1:30 to 2 p.m. (President’s Daily Diary, September 21, 1988)↩
  2. Attached but not printed are excerpts from Shevardnadze’s July 25 speech.↩
  3. September 23; see Document 177.↩