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Secretary of Defense to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, “Communications Between the US and USSR In Time of Crisis,” with attachments including the 30 September 1976 “Protocol on the Use of Immediate Notifications in the Implementation of the Agreement on Measures to Reduce the Risk of Outbreak of Nuclear War Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of September 30, 1971,” Secret, n.d. [Circa 1976-1977]

No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 1· D SECRET THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE· • WASHINGTON O C 103101 • ·a - MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIC'mAL SECUlUlY AFFAIRS SUBJECTz Communlc attons Between the US and USSR In Time f Crisis U • · U The attached peper responds to your ·re quest for I descrlption end 1v11u1tion of com munfcatfons bei ween the US and USSR fn ttme of crisis I • • S The paper concentrates on the capabf t rtt es and procedures assoclated --' wfth the USA·USSR Direct Ccmmunie1tl0ns link OCL-MOLINK or 11 Hot Line which Is operated by the Dep artrrient of Defense The normal dip1orriufc ehanneh and elrc ultt malntatned by the Department of State are avai1· able when time Is not a crltfca1 factor In emergencies ha ever the MOLINK provides the most raptd and direct comm1 m·1c aticns linkage between_ the Presfdent of 'the Unlted States ·and the General Secretary of the Com munlst Party of the Soviet Unfon Al·so rnch tded wf th the p aper h copy of a September 30 1976 Protocol on theJ fse of lmmedfate Natffr cations tn _ hnplementatron of the Agreement on Measures to Reduce the ·outbreak of Nuclear War Between the Untted Stetes of Amerlca and the Union of Soviet Soctalht RepubHcs of September 30 1971 The 1976 Protocol becomes ef· fectlve on March 30 1977 and provf de$ for reduced ·M0I JNK transmr ss tc m_ times through the use of pre•agreed short·massages ccnshtlng of a code word and n'umerl eal designator' • · · · · a • U This rep rt is based· on data provt·ded by the ·chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and has be n c_oordina ed·wfth the Department of State • Prepared by ol P R Drennon USAF • OASD ISA P P NSCA E t 5 326 ' s it1e 4 l ir __ ______ ___ _ __ •• rEC tJ Gi iERAL tliCLASSill'ICATICN SCH ED J'LE or L 'IVE ORDER 11652 AUIOMA ICALtY DOWNORADED i o n Ul INXDl VALs DEC SI IED 'I o lLQ 's KET I • No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 S R · No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 Communlcatfons ·Betweert the ·us ·and 'USSR hi - • Tl e '6f Crist 'fO 1 · u Two dfrec t methods are avaf hab 1e tu the President ·for communlc a tt_ng wfth the USSR In those situations where tfme h not a factnr eommunicad on th ro_ugh norma 1 d I p Ioma t t c c harme 1s and ·e I rcu I try rna f nta i ned by the ·Department of State wt-11 be avatlable ln -s·ftuatfons requiring rspfd notlftc atfori the USA•USSR Direct Communreatlcns- Lfnk · DCL·HOLINK operated y the Dep ll rtment of Defense ·wt-11 · norma11y be used • · - I 2 S Th t attonal Mf lftary Command Cent r- NMCC In the f'entagon ts the primary JashJngton MOLIN tennrnal and is respon stble for routine testing message ac c ountabtllt y·and translat·fon services A second terminal fn the Alternate tJationaT Military Command Canter • ANMCC near fort iUtc hie 1 Maryland has the capalHHty to serve as an alternate center for orlgfnat Ing ·and recetvtng messages NMCC personnel'are responsible for per Jodie testi_ng of thh terminal and for manning ·and cperattng ft should the need arise A third termlna I located tn th·e Whtt'e House ean act as an tndependen center for orig ttn using s eta riva rrlde features · f'te House· termJna s tested mnne op•· erated by White House personnel though· translator personnel may be relocated from tli'e NMCC at White House request It ls ar'ltlclpated however that ell offfc tal exchanges of messageswJ11 be via the NMCC _termJn ai unteu otherwhe df rected· by the Pres'tdent or· his 'Assistant for National Security Affairs 3 S Alt outgoing messages requl re ly from thei Prestd ent or throug the Secretary of State Secretary ense or Assistant to the Pre'stdent for Nstforia1 Securfty Affaf rs 'dtr The text of an outgo rng l lessage tn 'f · be ' transmitted from the IJh tte House ' to the NMCC by se'cure long dfstance XerOK LDX 'secure teletype secure telephone or courter for ·aerore releasing the message the Deputy Director Operations -NMCC must contact -the Wh1t House Situation Room and confl rm that the text recefved Is authentfc and has Pres identla 1 approval The tttessage h then t ransmhted to the Moscow tennfnal This process may take as ·1 Lttle as ftye minutes• -dependfng on ttie length and urgency of the meu_age All US fnttlated messages are transmitted' In ·E ng1is h · AH USSR In It I a ted· mess ages are rece 1·ved In Ruu fan 4 U A more detafled description of facfltttes procedures and expertence fs provided tn Tab A Contained tn Tab 8 fs a copy of a protoeo1 between the us·and USSR whlch describes accelerated co munfcations procedures for use tn connection with the Agreement on Measures to Reduce the Risk of Outbreak of Nuclear War Between the Unfted States of America and the Union of Soviet S_octallst Republtc s of September· 30 197 ' The aa elerated procedures become effective on March 30 1977 and permit the use of pre•agreed short messages consisting of a c ode word and a m merlcal dislgnat r to · reduee transmission time In eme_rgEancy sltuat lons · • Attachments a s SECRET No Objection Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 ' No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-1_2-17 9-2-9 · · · ·co i rr1AL -· ·- - · ·- 11 1 h• lat • · · _ _ · • ·• • HOLINK PROCEDURES I LINKAGE '· • • A WHITE HOUSE• CLINK NMCC I KY-3 Sec ure Phone ·used for vol ee communications between HOLJNK and ·White House SI tuatfon Room 2 Red Analog secure phone· ·•· a Used for conference calls lnc1udfng MOLINK Whfte House • and NNCC · · · · B • • • b Baek up for KY-3 to Whfte House ltuation ROOII J Secure lo_ng Dfstam e Xerox LOX to Wl lte H0u$e Situation Room hard copy eommunlcatfons · · Seture teletype alternate l'lleans for hard copy communfcatfons l S Courier • 6 peployment of MOllNK personnel · tions llnk OCL fac f 11 tY ·to White House Direct ' Comm1 1nlca· - • 8 MOL INK • US S Four teletype circuits 1 Prl ary ctrcutt TGP l Secure teletype system uses two tnns_ Athntlc cables to London and dlverse routes to Moscow 2 Secondary ct rcuft TGP 2 se cure teletype system uses s Ingle trans-Atlantic cable to Rome and dfverse routes to Moscow· • J Sate11he clrcurts TGP·J and TGP-4 both US Intelsat end Soviet MolnJ a satellites stems Routed via 1and1ine from enn als to earth stat ons fn the vfdnity of Washington D C and Moscow and then by satellite from earth statlon to earth station a -Secure teletype syst m uses b Stl11 not offtc1alty operational but highly reHab1e_ar d· could be used If neceuary e xpacted to be cfffcfa11y operational In 1977• COtlflDBfflAL - -- •••-· •----• -- '••Ill 'I • ' No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 ' No Objection To Declassification in ull 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 ·- 11uaunuuu lit -· • •· I ·•· C ALTERNATE DCL TEMINAU _ Hc n se NOLCNK penonnel deploy-to Whlte Rou$4 Coll'll'l' W'llcetlon Ageney fact1Jtv en reque t from dhtte House 1 White - 2 ANMCC a Manned by MOLINK personnel when 1c ttwted • b Tested by· MOUNK personnel on morith1y basis e Communleatfons wfth Whtte ouse avatJable through Secure facsimile LOX and seeure Red Analog phone • • II PROCESSING AND TAANSHISSION -· - A OUTGOING MESSAGES Very -1 lttle time ts r4llquf red to process and transmtt a message A two or three senten c NUCflASH message approved by the PresJ• dent during a NUCFLASH conference could be ·transmitted to Mose ow wtthln five minutes_ A more 1engthY less urgent lilcssage would take somewhat longer Personnel tn the Washf ngton and Moscow ·termfnals work together closely on an hourly basis and maintain not only a high feve1 or s-kl t 1 but 3° eh ilif professional rtpport which w kes· possible very rapid and effective communications Procedure for·deltvery of message from Moscow DCL termfnal to Secretary B_rezhnev ls unknown ·but experience tndteates that J t h extremely rapid · e • INCOHHIG MESSAGES the event of n · fneom_f n9 message the Deputy 01 reetor for· · Operations tJMCC not I fh s the Sent or Wateh Off'l cer t thd ·white •· House Sftuatlon Room As soon as the message Is tr an stated e copy·f sent to the White House Situation Room Translation tlme varies with the length and complexity of the ·message how· ever tn the past offr d ll government message trans Jation time has _been approximately ten mi·riutes UI PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Former presidsnts have chosen not to release · Information about thet r uses of MOLINK exeept for the exchanges 'h I eh occurred dur f ng the 1967 Arab' f uae n c onf1' c t The t1 ne has been used lofrequentlY since that tfme Experl_ence has shown that i message transml tteid via MOLINK wl 11 receive the immediate atten -tton of the·Cenera Secretar of the Communist Part of the· So ·1e n 011 • r 4 ' • ---- ' · • Z013 11 15 · NLC-12-17-9-2-9 No Objection To Declassification in Full • •· ' - No Ot j ction To DE la ifi c tion in Full 20 31 11 15 NLC- 12-17-9-2-9 1 • _ _ · • • 'I I ' • · 0 __ • •• • • 111· ' ECR • • • • bOTOCOL •• e • ' OM Ill I to hrsue nt • the prev t11ons and 1n impleimenta tion ot the ' ot Nuclea r AGrec111ent on Mee sw ese to Reduce thtJ Bi k r Outbreak l e t Between the Ul'lited StQ tea of' Am®rica and the Um cm of Sov Let · Socialist epublics ot September 30 1971 hereinafter reterred to as tha Afµ'eept ant on Measures and for•tne purpose ot e ch ev 1ns · i • • • -j _ I m 'eduction ot transmas 1on · tirr e ·-over the USA-USSR l irect on Meuuros the event or emcrscmcy a tuat1ons the Putiea Cof mun1cat1ons Lil t ot not1t1ce t1ons provided tor in the Agreement· 1n • # •• 4i f ' •· theri ito with1n the t rame otO ric ct the Standing Consultative CCI 1' 11• sion ha ve asr uSd a1 to1l bws a· · · · • • 11 111 I • • • l • 9 • • •• I It • •• • • • • f 'II • • • accomplish im ediato not1r1cat1on over the USA-USSR ' • • t • • • O • f Mrect Cot' munice tions Link in_ a ccorda nce d th the cibjecti'Ves and provisions cf the Asreemont on Measures in the event ot emergency · · • • ' _ ' ' I r •• • • • • s1tuat1cms unl eas in ·acco rae nce with Article 6 thereot the -· notifying Party deoms another form ot notit1cation more pp opria e • ' t • • • • • arid nu r1c l dcsit n tor shall be used p1·e· a sreed short- messages con s1st1ns ot a coda -word • # · e code 'llsord 1n a • a • s ott moss1 1ie means- tha t the message · · constitutes im 'Uad1a te not1t1catj oA 1n accordance with the Asreem t on Mo tures Et nd tho numcu • tca l d esia na tor ind1catu the number ct ' ·the cmcrm ncy a1tu1 1 ticn to which that notification I c orrc H onds • F r ca ch short me c u1 e to be tra uu ttr a d ca cl Put po i esaes · a cor t•cnpond105 pre - streod text t J i'u 11 I · '·' · II 't 1 • messaa e • ' • 4 - 1 No Objection To Declas ification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 '• l -- · f' · • No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12- 7-_9-2-9 • • • 2 · •· Ot vt t I · · · · _ · · · • ·• Sbo tics aha o 4Uidl d by the toll w tJ n p n w1s1ons recnrd irJi emorgoney 1itu t101ua correspondinS ihort s1aces to ·be t ransmittod M4 p re eed t ta ot full masa4 cs • n J ear li'Oj Lpo n trhtch could c raate I ' • · 111 An • Short messe te to 'be trammd ttech · · t- lll ·' ot tu U messaee $ • •• accidGnts 11 una utho rited or other mwxplaJ ned ineident i' ' • 1tar Betveen the•Un1ted Sta tee • • • - Dota U a tollQw · b 'n-l'o · Situation • •• Ii • • ' ' • I • t A' t'QM 222 ' ext ot full ttessage • ' ri k ot out'b rea k or nucie war ·'betwe n the USA and the USSR · 1 l ••·· objects and this ooe urrenee could c ree te e ri sk of outbreak ot · _ message const1tutoa notification 1n accordance w1th ••• -- - e e Agreement en Ml asurea to l'teduc e tJ'ie Rislc' or Outbre k ot truciear etueen the U 'lited' Sta tea er America and· the Union ot Soviot ' · '• • · I' • 1t• • II Ill •• • I • ' If ' deteet1on by mua Ue warning systems Sha t message to be trensm tttcd _ · o f 1lnid tit ed obJecta i t uch occurrence could·create a · 11 ta nu lear weapon which could 'e nate a ri1Ut ot outbreak of nuelee r ·war has ccurred hh message constitutes notifica tion n accordance with the Agrc mcmt QQ Ueuures to lteduce·the Ri sk or Outbre k or Nuclear· ot America and the Um on ct Soviet '_ · ·· Soeulist epublios ·of' September 30 1m ' s zvolv ing ap ssible detonation -II •' risk ot'outbro k ot nuclear war 'cetwecn the tTaA and tho USSR • ' an accidonta l unAuthor 1 ed or any aiher uneY lained ineident involvinG a poss 1'blo datona tien ot •• situi tion OnG 0 ·• No Objection To ·Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 l' 11' ' 1' • ' No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 • •• ' e _ • ' •'41 ' • ' -- · ·I ' -_ ' · - • - ' · • - w-•• ••• ••• - •·- - • • • CRET • · • •• ' • • · •· aa ·• •• •• •• We request ureent Chritica ticm ror o 11 pro t we sh U provide a1 p ropria to a dd itiona l ormtl ti on as soon J• ' I poa 11 1e -n o• s1tui tion T11rot detection o · 1ntcrrercnec w1th · · · rdlsile WUllinG systems or fith rele ted conwmuc tions to eillt Les • - ·--• · · ·· ' • 'between the_'USA and thr a tJSSR • SHort mcuu ae a to be t ra n ami ttech • ATOM 333 · ext ot f'ull message 11P • • • • 11- Ill • d • P • i • It ·• ••• •· • I • bis message constitutes not11 1cation in accorcle nc e n1th ti • • i ' 00eu -ren00 ceul ·create a isk of outb eak of nuclear war ti t • - el e ted c0mmun icati0n1 facilities has been detected and th is • •-· • rnterterence with m issile rarnine systems or·with • d 1 ' _ 7 the A reement onlteasures to Jteduee the·R isk ot outbrc k of Nuclear WN Between the U n1tad Ste tea the Union of Sov iet of America ·•and S9 11st iepubl1cs_p t Septomber 30 1 71 • · · We request lr gent clari icaticm · For our part we sha 11 • t '• •' • jl - ·· · provide • pproprie tt e dd1t1ona l 1ntoi-me t1 m as soon e s p ssible ' ----- ' 4 Situe tion Four an unsuccessful le unch of a missile · · • which 1a not c ar ry1 ng e nuclear weapen u result' of which the·· • • • a • • • i'UGh t trc Jectory ct tbe ss 1le has e ttended' or ma y extend beyond national terr tory or in such a direction that 1n the Judpl ent the missile launci k occurre Party en whose side the atorementioned · · •th1e even t ould be m 1s1nter»reted by the other Party _ and when l ··· the former Party deems notit'1ca t1on · to 'be tta rra nted by the '1 r te ests • t he USSR • • • • • • ' • • t • •• ATOM 444 • __ _ · · · ·' · ___ _ _ _ _______ _ ' •• • ·• •1 • ' • · ' ' •• _ _ _ • • • • · - ' • SECR i • As a _ resul t -or an tmsucc0s sru1 la unct ot a missile which not carrying- a nuclear weapon ita · i'liGht trb Jectory ho a ' ' Short rneuc io to bo tra n atittoU · T_oxt of tull mcasa r o • a 11a r between the USA and - t ' -ct avert ins th a risk ot outbreak ·or nuclear t ••• • 1 ·•·'-'· •• I ••• ' • - r •• 'I II ' No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 ' No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9_ ··· · · · · tended or ot v t I · · · · · · · · · f cn4 o Mt rritoz¥ d1rc t1on this ·avent eoUl 4 tll l t ' bo m1a1nt0 rpreited 11 a DUD mcscasa 1s sent tor the purpose ot precluding tbe • • • j I • - poss1b1litl' o r m1sintarpretat1cn ot our act toM end ccmstitutes not tt1ca t1on 1n accordnnce ' ntp the' A4re0m nt on MeuurtHi to educe the lU sk ot outbreak ot Nuclcs vto r Boti een the Utu ted • it States ot Amcr tc d the nion ot S0v1ct ocia l at Repu'bllc1 - · · Details to J ow • e S1tm' t1on FivEu an une XJiila in ed 'nuc ea r 1f 1c1dent I I I · • ---· l I other Party be misinte rpreted deems rceei ving le rit icat ion· • to be warranted by _the· interest ot avertinG the risk ot out'brea k of huelea r war bettreen the tisA and the· USSR 9 Short znenage to be transmitted - ATOM•-SSS · ' _ 81 • ·· ' ' ' ' m jf • • ' •4 Ill• • · ' •if i •• · • •• 1 ·-· e d to avert the- isk ot outbreak ot nuclear war we request · • urgent cl r1r1cati0n • t · 1 11 i ti • f • • • An unexple 1ned nuclear incident ha s been detected e nd_p · to educe the pos ib1li y 9t your actiona oins in erpreted • • · - 11 ·1 when one Pu•ty due to tho pouil illty of' tbo actions of th$ ·· p •• I it - lbis mossae eonstitutos iot U'ication in a ccorcta nce with •· • II T - en Measures to Reduce the R sk ot Outbreak of Nucles r the Agreement ·· t a r Between the Vnited Sta tes of An eriea and the Uniott ot Soviet· · 0 · -· Socialist Republics ot SElptember 30 ' 1971 ' · · · For our part we· sha J l provide a pproprie te additional PCS G1ble 'w0ma ti0n S Oon a s t Situ3 t fon • • Si i · • _ - · 1 · •• - ·• ••• • ' f ot1e'Party due to tha possibility·or ita actions beinG misintorpretod Y tho othcn· bG warrMtt d bf' the i 'I i · · J • en unc plcJ nad nu clca r incident ' 'hen Party decn s notif1cat t1on to I ' • • I I t • I • No bjection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC 12-17-9-2-9 No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 • ti • ••• • · • _'ff t lir· I ·• •• the USA and tl1o ·· - • ussn Short' me 5sa e to be 1in1 ru ullitted A1 M 666 • 4 · text ot tul l mess ge •An UltGxpia 1 ned nuclear 1nc1d t ha occurred and ·- to ·-- ·· _ reduce the possibility o r our a etions ba c misinterPreted and nueiea r war 'to avert tbe risk Of' outbreak ot t • we provide th1 •JBI' - · not1f1cnt1on in e ccordi mce w 1th the Agreement on Measures to ·' • ' the UnitGd Jteduce the R1slc of Out'braa k ot Nuclou War Between States or A 1ruu•S ca · anti the Union of soviet social 1st Republics ot · September 30 1971 • Dotails tollow 1 · 3 Iii' - ' • I · 1be PAl tY which he s r ee'ivett' from the other Ps rty a 1 messase oh oie or the situations provided for 1n puac rapb 2 · ot this' ProtocQl shall imm edi tely take all actions within ts p o -er in-accorda nce•with the objectives- and provisions ot the - ' Agreement on Measur es in the 1r1 terests reducing the risk or outbrealt ot nucle1J r war 'between the TJSA e nd the USSR · r n· e d diticn T • • • '' when receiving me iages in accordance with subparagraphs b c I • ' • I 4 0 l •· - and e or pa raariph' 2 of th 1 - Protocol ths t Part eha ll ens ·e •J l• •• I ursent transm 1 ssion gf appropriate 1n t'Ol mation at its disposal • • # • J t'ega rdins the s1tue t1on tthich 1B tha subject ct 'the requE lst Md t heQ eoeivin messages-on the other situations provided tor ··ps rasraph 2 ahall transmit appropxiate information at its illspase J regard ing the situation which· 1s the ·sut 1 c t or the notiticaticn aa it lee r s necc tjaQ t • AA• •• the Pe rty wh 1cb ha a aent ·• 11•1 1· 0 • •••• ••·T •• it - # • ' riu uuse Go to the othc ir· Fa rty con- ' t · · cernlns any 0£ the s 1 tu3 t1ons spec 1 ficd· sha 11 act 1n · the sp ri t · ot the Qbl1o i t1on a ensu1nt from the AGraomont ¢n Mao cures a ld t ' ' ' • - · ' · • • jf ' • I • ' ----- No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 I No Objection To Declassificati2n in II 20 3 11 15 NLC-12-17- -2-9 -- ··- __ ' · · _ •• ' t • 4 • notUica t1ora • • t1it211 41 - •• - _ u_ necaaa8 %7 a • · · or uiizat on l UJ 4 ·technical rrangements· tor tx-aa1smission of · • their II • • · · • · these measae oa u •• ' • It P rotccol shall enter 1nto torce six mcmths af'ter • • • • I I • o n Meanures ·and ms y be a mande by the ·s1 an d in 1 Consultative Com us • ion 1 t deems ppropl ate ' · · as· • • • 'I I • • and Russia ri la nGua gcui1 · • •• • · • ·· · · · • · • • • • publi s · • · - I Ill • •• ' - • • • _ 0 0 ' · • - - i_ · - · 11 • '' - I • •• 8 II II • 11 ••II • _ • II I 11P • I • ·••¾' •I • • '' • •••• Ii ' •111 • • I I ill- I • I •• • •• • • • ' t II II t I ' I • • · • # •• I • t t • t - · C • • l - - ••• • • 11• 111 •• -· -- - r • • • 1 • 1 ' I f • • · ' • - •'· ' '• • - •· - •·• · _ • i - '• • a T ··l · -· · • • i_ ti • · • · I 41ffe •• • 9 • Vnion or soviet Socialist ' Comrni ssionor ·' ' • · · ·• · · • i •• · - •tic··•· · both texts 'b 1ng equally • ' ···iLutlientic • · · •· Dc oe at Geneva on September 30 _ l976 1n two copies es eh 1n t let E lt lish o' 41 sisnatur and sh J l remeJ 11 in torco tor the d ation or the 4reen ent 6i tJSA-ussn · hort meiuui4es cet t0rt11 1n pa rai rc pn 2 ovo r the J ir-ect ommunica tio s IJ nl tho Pa rt ie shill 1J PI'OVe _ 4· For tho purpose o further reducing tbe tro ns1u 1u 1on time or • · at 1ts d1spoa0 l reau·d 1 n the' i ttua 1 ioii which is the subject or the ·•' • • r • 1 · • 10 No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 15 NLC-12-17-9-2-9 1 • 11 r •