6. National Security Study Directive 3–821

U.S. POLICY AND NEGOTIATING POSITION FOR THE STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTIONS TALKS

Introduction

This National Security Study Directive establishes the Terms of Reference for completing the review of U.S. policy and the development of a negotiating position for the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START).

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Objective of Review

To produce a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD), Subject: U.S. Policy and Negotiating Position for the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks, for consideration by the National Security Council.

Scope

The review will result in a report for National Security Council consideration, which will include, as a minimum, the following topics:

—U.S. interests and objectives in entering into these negotiations.

—U.S. objectives within the negotiations.

—Factors that may constrain U.S. options within negotiations.

—Criteria appropriate for evaluating alternative U.S. approaches in terms of U.S. interests and objectives.

—Issues requiring resolution to develop an integrated U.S. approach to negotiations.

—Evaluation of the alternative solutions for each issue and recommendations with respect to the alternatives.

—Integration of the resolution of the individual issues into a single, comprehensive U.S. approach, or alternative comprehensive approaches, for NSC consideration.

—Assessment of the comprehensive approach(es) in terms of U.S. interests and objectives.

—U.S. negotiating position and strategies to implement the U.S. comprehensive approach(es).

This study will establish U.S. policy, the U.S. negotiating position, and U.S. strategies for the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks.

Administration

Management of the NSSD 3–82 review will be the responsibility of the existing START Interdepartmental Group, which should draw upon the significant work it has already completed. A timetable for the completion of work remaining is provided at attachment.2 The Interdepartmental Group will report its findings for National Security Council consideration not later than May 1, 1982. Resulting National Security Council decisions will be incorporated into a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD).

Any approach or alternative approaches recommended to the National Security Council should, as a minimum, permit the U.S. to develop and possess sufficient military capability relative to that allowed to the Soviet Union to execute U.S. national military strategy [Page 16] with reasonable assurance of success. The Joint Chiefs of Staff will submit their timely assessments of the approach(es) in terms of this criterion to the Interdepartmental Group for use in developing the proposed U.S. position, and will certify to the military sufficiency of each approach as part of the report submitted to the National Security Council.

Dissemination of this NSSD, subsequent study material, and the resulting NSDD will be handled on a strict need-to-know basis.

Ronald Reagan
  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR—070, NSSD 3–82 3 MAR 82 START NEGOTIATION. Top Secret. Clark forwarded the NSSD to Bush, Haig, Weinberger, Casey, Jones, and Rostow, under cover of a March 3 memorandum (which McFarlane signed on Clark’s behalf): “The President has directed that the program of preparations for the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks be formalized by the issuance of NSDD 3–82, Subject: U.S. Policy and Negotiating Position for the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks, for NSC consideration. Building on prior interagency work, this effort will prepare the Government to establish U.S. policy, the U.S. negotiating position, and strategies for the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks. Resulting National Security Council decisions will be incorporated in a National Security Decision Directive. The attached National Security Study Directive (NSSD 3–82) provides the guidelines for the review.” (Ibid.)
  2. Attached but not printed is the timetable for the completion of work remaining.