15. Memorandum From Richard Pipes of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)1

SUBJECT

  • Revision of NSDD on Eastern Europe

Larry Brady came over this morning and we worked out a text of the Technology Transfer section which satisfies Commerce.2 I subsequently called Eagleburger, and he found it personally acceptable. State is now studying its implications and also getting in touch with all the agencies that participated in the drafting of this NSDD. We should have an answer in a week. My impression is that Commerce’s proposal will not get broad support and will encounter strong opposition from Defense and CIA. I will send you the final results in ten days or so.

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC National Security Decision Directives (NSDD) Files, NSDD 54 9/2/1982. Secret. Sent for information. “WPC has seen” is stamped at the top of the memorandum.
  2. Baldrige outlined the differences between the NSDD language and the Commerce language in a memorandum he sent to Clark on July 29: “The draft NSDD and the Commerce proposal differ on one key point: that is whether to differentiate on transfer of controlled technology to individual countries in Eastern Europe (Commerce proposal) or whether there should be an across-the-board prohibition, with the sole exception of Romania (draft NSDD). There is agreement to differentiate with respect to end products, as distinct from technology.” (Reagan Library, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate Files, Eastern Europe, US Policy toward NSSD 5–82; NSDD 54—09/02/81 (3))