Office of the Historian

40. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan1

Washington, November 10, 1982

SUBJECT

  • PFIAB Recommendation on START Verification and Arms Control

Issue

Should you sign the attached NSDD which responds to the PFIAB recommendations?2

Facts

Anne Armstrong has forwarded PFIAB’s examination of the adequacy of the intelligence community’s capability and organization for assessing SALT/START compliance issues (Tab C).3 Key PFIAB recommendations include:

—Creation of a high level policy mechanism to oversee review and assess all aspects of verification and compliance, chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

—Creation of a “Red Team” to anticipate Soviet cheating scenarios.

—The development of range of measured action responses short of treaty abrogation which the US could take if violations were detected.

—Drafting of precise treaty language to prevent ambiguities and loopholes in verification of provisions.

—A critical review of Soviet cover, concealment and deception (CCD) actions related to strategic arms.

Discussion

The PFIAB recommendations are sound. Some progress is being made, but the interagency process has not worked properly in the verification area. Creation of a high level Verification Committee reporting to the NSC is a sine qua non for serious consideration of all aspects of compliance. The attached NSDD for your signature establishes the Verification Committee.

[Page 130]

A letter to Anne Armstrong4 acknowledges the recommendations, and requests that PFIAB undertake the review of Soviet CCD in cooperation with Bill Casey.

Recommendation

OK No
________ ________ 1. That you sign the attached NSDD.5 (Tab A)
2. That you sign the letter to Anne Armstrong.6 (Tab B)
  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR 080, NSDD 0065[Arms Control Verification Committee]. Top Secret. Sent for action. Prepared by deGraffenreid. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “Signed.”↩
  2. Printed as Document 41.↩
  3. Attached but not printed. See Document 38.↩
  4. Printed as Document 42.↩
  5. An unknown hand indicated approval on Reagan’s behalf.↩
  6. An unknown hand indicated approval on Reagan’s behalf.↩