Foreign Relations of the United States, 1989–1992, Volume XXXI, START I, 1989–1991

69. Memorandum From John Gordon and Richard Davis of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)¹

Washington, February 5, 1990

SUBJECT

• Proposed NSD on Arms Control Issues

At Tab I is a proposed National Security Directive on START and related issues. Most of these were discussed at the February 1 Oval Office meeting.² The approach to a ban on data denial was agreed in a February 3 meeting of the Arms Control PCC.³ An early draft⁴ of the proposed NSD (less the section on data denial) was informally reviewed by State, OSD, JCS, ACDA, DCI on February 2.

You should note that, as was agreed at the February 1 Oval Office meeting, the proposed NSD would have the U.S. table specific numerical limits for non-deployed mobile ICBMs. These limits (300–500 missiles and 1500 warheads) reflect an interagency consensus that is based on projected U.S. requirements for Rail-Garrison Peacekeeper and SICBM.

Given the uncertainties about U.S. plans to deploy one or both of these mobile systems, a case could be made that we should not commit ourselves now to specific numerical limits on NDMs. We recommend, however, tabling our NDM numbers. First, our commitment to come to Moscow ready to resolve the NDM issue will sound hollow if we are not prepared to attach numbers to our approach. Second, it is unlikely that the Soviets would accept limits much lower than what we are proposing, whatever the fate of our two mobile missiles. Third, we always have the option of revising these numbers in connection with possible START initiatives related to mobile MIRVs.

To be most useful, the President should sign the NSD before the February 5 departure of the U.S. team for Moscow.

Concurrence by: Robert Blackwill, Philip Zelikow, Nicholas Rostow, Nancy Meenan and George Van Eron.

RECOMMENDATION

That you sign the proposed memorandum to the President at Tab I that forwards an arms control NSD for his signature.⁵

1. Source: George H.W. Bush Library, Bush Presidential Records, National Security Council, H-Files, NSD Files, OA/ID 90004–010, NSD-36—February 06, 1990—United States Arms Control Policy. Secret. Sent for action. Sent through Kanter.
2. See Document 68.
3. No minutes were found.
4. Not found.
5. An unknown hand indicated approval and wrote beneath the “Approve” line: “BS 2/6/90 Given to Linda Casey for the President on A71.” The memorandum to Bush was not attached. For NSD 36, see Document 70.