6 t Department of State INDICATE UNClASSIFI DISTRIBUTION LEGRAM $ a o ' AMEMBASSY HELS INK I ACTION f C a ss i f icati on OcoLLECT OcM t RGE To DP-1 - I'- 3 DE SECRET EXDIS I ' J t 2 @V EJ1Z f C J J 15111151 I PRIORITY STATE_____ s- T0$4LT EXDIS SUBJECT • Paper A-4 u s Opening Statem t Delegation is authorized to use following paper SALT Negotiating Paper A-4 U s OPENING STATF HENT At the initial private meeting with the Soviet Delegation the U S Delegation should make the opening statement set forth in the following paragraphs I wish to express my country's profound interest in the t•l s which are now commenotng on the limitation and sub Mg sequent reduction of strategic nuclear weapons systems _j DJz· JD SECRET EXDIS Class d icat on Department of State TELEGRAM INDICATE OcoLLECY • UClASSIFIED CHARGE YO DISTRIBUTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI ACTION PRIORITY Page 2 7 both offensive and defensive purpose of the in developing The United S t a t e s strategic nuclear arms has been to make it totally unproductive for any country to initiate hostilities against the United States and its • allies While the UoSo proposes to continue to maintain a sufficient nuclear deterrent posture for so loag as it may be required and recognizes that the Soviet Union may have similar attitudes on such matters we think the present relationship to be susceptible of improvement to the benefit of bot sides and to the detriment of neither The problems before us are of course complex and will not be easy to resolve However we believe coulQ result in an agreenent that our efforts would enhance the security of both sidesa J t • f • IIRAFTED ev DRAFTING DATE TEL EJIT CLEARANCES UC ASSIFIED FORM FS-413 4 • 68 JIIIISECRET EXDIS Classification APPAOVEO 9Y • f • • • • BJIK SECRET EXDIS Ctassificsti on Department of State TELEGRAM INDICATE OcoL LECT OcHARGE TO DISTRIBUTION ACTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY Page 3 and would contribute to world stability overall 7 It would also constitute a most important step in fulfillment of the obligations contained in Article VI - Meaningful agreement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty la•••• between • our two countries would increase the prospects for the widest possible adherence to the Non-Proliferatio Treaty It is my government s view that one of the features of the past relationship which has caused each of us to expand strategic armaments to such substantial levels has been uncertainty as to the future potential capabilities of the other When there have been doubts as to what those 9apabiltties- might be a conservative judgment has been ' d emed necessary We recognize that some of our deploy- ments made to insure against uncertainties may have DRAFTED BY DRAFTING DATE TIU• • EIIT CLEAl'IANCES 1 CUSSJIED FORMfS 4lJ 4 • 68 B11J SECRET EXDIS Classification APPROVED BY _J Ill SECRET EXDIS Classilicati on Department of State -TELEGRAM INDICATE D COI LEC T D CHARGE TO DISTRIBUTION ACTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY Cl SSFI a Page 4 7 constituted an element in decisions made by your government believe that an effective strategic should arms limitation agreement - reduce uncertainties We on both sides • • It is to the interest of the United States that the Soviet Union have sufficient confidenee in its under- standing of our tions that it can with assurance· limit its strategic nuclear armaments Similarly we hope that the Soviet Union considers it to be in its interest that we have reason for su -lcient confidence ' in our understanding of Soviet actions to be able to limit u s strategic armaments I t is ·my· government's view that we should endeavor on to avoid the development and deployment of _J DRAFTED BY DRAFTING OATE TEI EXT CLEARANCES IIIISECRET EXDIS Classilication FORM FS-413 4 • 68 APPROVED BY 111B SECRET EXDIS Classilicati on Department of State TELEGRAM INDICATE OcoLLECl' • U ClASSI JED Page 5 7 CHARGE l'0 DISTRIBUTION ACTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY strategic weapons systems that might increase the likelihood of resort to nuclear war in a crisis situation We believe that limitations that contribute obj ctive to this important merit serious attention • • We believe that it is important and should be possib to reach agreement on measures curbing the strategic arms competition without resolving all · of the difficult problems involved in a general disarmament program could We believe that a first step 111dlt be to achieve meaningful limitations on offensive and defensive strategic could be · · missile forces Such a s t e p of value in avoiding a further costly and possibly dangerous 1111mraad could missile deployments and 1WM lf help ehe way for subsequent reduction of strategic ' _J 0RAFTE0 8Y DRAFTING DA'l'E TEL EXT CLEARANCES FORMFS-413 4 • 68 UClASSlfl D Xllllt SECRET EXDIS Classification APPROVED B't j IIRSECRET EXDIS Classilicati on Department of State UCLASSIFIED • TELEGRAM INDICATE Oco1 1 ECT OcHARGE To DISTRIBUTION ACTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI Page 6 PRIORITY 7 We recognize that achieving strategic arms limita ions which meet our separately perceived requirements of national security is a complex task given the nature of existing strategic offensive and defensive missile • systems and the many factors affecting military capabilities Our two nations have differing levels and kinds of strategic weapons systems and ' e may not share evaluations regarding the utility of these systems However we believe that equitable and mutually beneficial strategic arms limitations can be attained We believe that a discussion of the considerations I have mentioned wili help us achieve this goal 'J 'b rme is a wide range f methods by which the strategic armaments ot both sides can be limited sJ_ ed· a number of approaches 0RAFTE0 av DRAFTING DATE We are willing to give _J TIU• EXT CLEAR NCES 11111 SECRET EXDIS FORMFS-413 4 • 68 We have con- r PPROV 0 SY 11 S ECRET EXDIS C assificati on Department of State OcoLLECT D a lASSIFJEO TELEGRAM INDICATE CHARGE TO DISTRIBUTION ACTION AMEMBASSY HELSINKI Page 7 PRIORITY 7 consideration to suggestions which your government may wish to make We will 'be prepared to discuss limitations on all strategic offensive an defensive weapon systems • • We believe that in our discussion of methods by which limitations can be achieved we should view any agreement we reach not as a fixed or final goal but as part of a l process of meaningful discussion and resolution of issues arising from our strategic relationship Such a con- tinuing process will not only be necessary in our f orts to achieve further agreements but by provid means for solving problems that arise will aiso make more viable those initial arrangements we may agree upon Any •agr em ent of course must rest upon adequate arrange- ments to assure mutual confidence regarding compliance ' _J with its terms a RAFTED SY DRAFTING DATE TEL EXT APPROYEO 9V1 r CLEARANCES 1111 SECRET EXDIS FORMFS-413 4 • 68 4 Ill SECRET EXDIS Classificat on Department of State TELEGRAM INDICATE D COLLECT • a l ss1F1i v CMARGE TO DISTRIBUTION AMEMBASSY HEU INKI ACTION PRIORITY Page 8 7 We believe that a primary objective of our preliminary talks should be the development of a work program for • main talks which are to fQllow • To this end the U S Delegation will be prepared to 1- present illustrative basic elements of an approach for discussion As I noted earlier we would welcome suggestions from the Soviet side • The problem we are facing is urgent • IIIIUPEP1 1f JIIIIIIIJIUIIIBIDIIIIIIIPL1111f llllUUUI-- The United States Government believes these talks' can lead to an early agreement beneficial to both sides By our agreement we could demonstrate to the -world at largethat our two nations each endowed with great military power can act to limit that power and are prepared to _J DRAFTING OATE Ti L ' ltXT DRAFTED 9Y CLEARANCES FORMFS•413 4 • 68 UCUSSIFIEO Hi'I SECRET EXDIS Classilication APPIIOVED BY 111B SECRET EXDIS C as s ilicati on Department of State 0 D SS EU TELEGRAM INDICATE COLLECT CHARCE TO DISTRIBUTION AMEMBASSY INK I ACTION PRIORITY Page 9 7 a greater share of dedicate our energies and resources to more constructive purposes We will approach this task in a spirit of cooperation • and with a desire to advance our c011DDOn interest GP-3 - END - ROGERS J OR4FTEO ev DRAFT ING DATE CL£ARANCES