CONVERSATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, 16 NOVEMBER 1978

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01554R003200200019-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2005
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: November 17, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

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17 November 1978.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Conversation with the Secretary of Defense,
16 November 1978
1. The Secretary gave me a debriefing on his trip to the Pacific
and asked Admiral Hanson to send us some messages or trip reports.
a. He noted the Koreans were not uptight about the
potential increase in the North Korean order of battle.
They probably had carried those numbers anyway. In
addition, he didn't discuss any specific numbers.
b. He noted that the Japanese were more willing
to discuss military programs than ever before.
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2. We talked about the budget and he complimented us. on the fine way .25X1
it had been done. He indicated he had not heard many com laints about
specific ro rams. He was concerned with resolving thdlissue (which 25X1
really and he was concerned with
but particularly with what would o with the half-loaf which we gave to
them.
I specifically raised the issue of 0 and the
importance of his and my staying in close consort so that
both of us don't get caught with an end run on this issue.
I promised him I would keep him posted on the progress of
Hans Mark's study. I'd like to call for some kind of a
sitrep for my next meeting with SecDe . It w17 e pretty
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close to the 1 December preliminary date for the study,
It may be well, however, at the next meeting just to
discuss what elements the study is covering so that we
can understand what we're going to have to review before
the final decisions.
3. I discussed the dates for our budget reviews with the President.
He doesn't think they will be ready before the 18th, but it's fine with
him if we go ahead on the 14th.
4. I discussed the
situation. I made the following proposals:
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I
5. I gave the rundown on the Somali situation.
6. I gave the rundown on the satellites. He asked me how accurate our
knowledge is on the characteristics of the Soviet satellites and how we obtain
it. Some 15 years ago when he was last familiar with this, he said we did
our estimating based on our understanding of the state of the art in the
Soviet Union. I'd like to know a little more about how we made our estimates
and what our confidence in them is.
7. I delievered the draft outline of the IIM on Soviet Naval Readiness
and asked for his views.
8. I didn't get to talk to him about any decisions he was facing. Would
like to do that next time.
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