Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XLIV, Part 1, National Security Policy, 1985–1988

274. Memorandum From William Heiser, William Tobey, and Robert Linhard of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Powell)¹

Washington, August 11, 1988

SUBJECT

• ABM Treaty Review: Proposed NSDD Approving Instructions to the U.S. Delegation

Purpose. This action implements the President’s guidance issued in NSDD–312² by forwarding for his approval the instructions to the U.S. Delegation and the supporting documentation for use by the Delegation in the conduct of the ABM Treaty Review.

Discussion. The proposed memorandum to the President at Tab I³ notes that the final drafts of the instructions to the Delegation; plenary statements on Krasnoyarsk, Gomel and nonviolation compliance issues; unilateral statement; Communique; and Protocol have been forwarded by the interagency ABM Treaty Review Steering Group to the NSC for decision and approval by the President. It forwards for the President’s approval an NSDD (Tab A)⁴ that provides the detailed instructions for use by the U.S. Delegation during the conduct of the ABM Treaty Review scheduled to begin on August 24.

The memorandum to the President also confirms that the supporting documentation (Tab B),⁵ i.e., plenary statements, unilateral statement, Communique and Protocol, is fully consistent with the instructions to the Delegation, and hence does not warrant his personal attention.

The draft instructions and the supporting documentation, however, contain several brackets indicating agency disagreements. The bracketed texts are at Tab III.⁶ Our strategy in resolving these issues is to hold to the same course of action the U.S. has pursued in the Standing Consultative Commission (SCC), and to ensure that all documents are fully consistent with the guidance in NSDD–312. The instructions and supporting documents at Tabs A and B reflect this approach. If your decision is to approve our proposals, then the memorandum to the President can be sent without delay.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That you approve NSC Staff recommendations on resolving the bracketed material in the instructions to the Delegation and the supporting documentation (Tab III).⁷

That you sign the memorandum to the President at Tab I forwarding the NSDD.⁸

That you sign the NSDD Distribution memorandum at Tab II.⁹

Concurrence: Alison Fortier, Nicholas Rostow, Linton Brooks

1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–097, NSDD 313. Secret. Sent for action.
2. See Document 272.
3. Printed as Document 275.
4. Printed as Document 276.
5. See footnote 4, Document 275.
6. Not attached.
7. Powell approved the recommendation.
8. Powell approved the recommendation.
9. Powell approved the recommendation. Tab II is attached but not printed; see footnote 1, Document 276.