9. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to Secretary of State Haig, Secretary of Defense Weinberger, Director of Central of Intelligence Casey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Jones), and the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Rostow)1
SUBJECT
- Preparations for START
In the wake of the National Security Council meeting of April 21, the President has directed the following analyses as a basis for reaching decisions on the United States negotiating position for the START negotiations.
The work of the START Interdepartmental Group has been extremely worthwhile and well done. This work should now be elevated to the Senior Interdepartmental Group co-chaired by the Departments of State and Defense, which should undertake analyses forthwith and produce a paper containing the following elements:
—Options for the Units of Account.
—Interim restraints to which we might subscribe without risk to our security interests.
—Other issues, e.g. refires, mobiles, ICBM sublimits, etc.
As an important basis for the SIG’s analyses, the Department of Defense should forward to the SIG the results of an analysis of absolute weapons requirements essential to the support of the national strategy under alternative START outcomes.
The required paper should be forwarded by the SIG to the National Security Council not later than COB May 1, 1982. This paper will form the basis for an NSC discussion and for subsequent decisions on START during the week of May 3.