177. Memorandum From Ambassador-at-Large Rowny to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Carlucci)1

SUBJECT

  • Ban on Mobile ICBMs in START

I believe our current position in START banning mobile ICBMs should remain unchanged for the time being. The basic objective at this point is to obtain Soviet agreement to effective verification provisions for mobile ICBMs. Retention of the ban on mobiles will provide us with a great deal of leverage in negotiating these provisions. Altering our position to allow a limited mobile ICBM deployment under certain conditions, as suggested by some agencies, would eliminate that leverage. It would tell the Soviets that we would be permitting mobiles prior to any agreement on verification provisions.

  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, SR Box 094, NSDD 256. Secret. Copied to Shultz.