Office of the Historian

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

Washington, April 15, 1986

MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY GROUP

I. PURPOSE

To review and discuss the policy options available to the US in responding to Soviet arms control violations.

II. BACKGROUND

Last June, you decided to continue the policy of not undercutting the SALT agreements to the extent that the USSR exercised equal restraint. In doing so you decided that the US would take appropriate and proportionate responses to Soviet violations and that you would consider future US deployment milestones on a case-by-case basis in light of the overall situation and Soviet actions including correction of their non-compliance, a reversal of their arms build-up and progress in Geneva. The next milestone occurs on May 20 as the NEVADA commences sea trials. At the March 25 NSPG you heard from your Cabinet on a range of program options we could use in responding to Soviet violations.

III. PARTICIPANTS

List of Participants is at TAB B.2

IV. PRESS PLAN

None planned.

V. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

I will provide a brief review of existing policy, summarize Soviet violations and describe two declaratory policy alternatives. We plan to have 25 minutes of discussion, in which you will have the opportunity to hear appropriate Cabinet members views on the matter. [Page 348] Agenda is at TAB A3 and appropriate background material is at TABs C through I.4 A decision is not needed at the meeting, and we would strongly recommend against taking and announcing such a decision at that time. Following the NSPG, we will provide a decision package reflecting the NSPG discussion and recommending a course of action.

  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–110, NSPG 0131. Secret. Prepared by Wright and Linhard. Copies were sent to Bush and Regan. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum indicates Reagan saw it on April 16. The document indicates that the meeting was scheduled for April 16 from 10:15 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. in the White House Situation Room.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. Attached but not printed.↩
  4. Attached but not printed.↩