5. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan1
SUBJECT
- U.S. Preparations for Strategic Arms Reductions Talks
Issue
Should the preparations underway for the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START) be formalized by issuing a National Security Study Directive?
Facts
While substantial preparatory analytical work has been completed, the major additional interagency work required can best be assured through the focus, discipline, and momentum provided by an NSSD.
Discussion
The proposed NSSD will prepare us to establish U.S. policy, the U.S. negotiating position, and U.S. strategies for START, and will provide a foundation to guide the conduct of the U.S. as negotiations progress. The establishment of the NSSD will assure comprehensiveness and timeliness of the interagency work. The NSSD sets a date for completion of the study by May 1, 1982. This will assure necessary momentum [Page 14] and timely preparation of options and recommendations for consideration by the National Security Council. Resulting decisions will be formalized in a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD).
Recommendation
| OK | No | |
| ________ | ________ | That you sign the National Security Study Directive 3–82 at Tab A.2 |
- Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR—070, NSSD 3-82 3 MAR 82 START NEGOTIATION. Top Secret. Sent for action. Prepared by Linhard and Sven Kraemer. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads “Signed.” Sven Kraemer and Linhard sent the memorandum to Clark for his signature under cover of a March 1 memorandum in which they argued “Building upon work already completed by the START IG, the NSSD will provide the highest-level direction without which we believe it will be impossible to assure coordinated, timely presentation of options and recommendations to the NSC.” (Ibid.)↩
- Reagan indicated his approval by writing a checkmark and his initials. The NSDD is printed as Document 6.↩