DAILY SUMMARY OF PUBLIC POSITIONS ON INF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000500500001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 27, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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aily Summary of Public Positions on INF ci uanuary i j
West European media yesterday highlighted statements by President Reagan and
Ambassador Nitze on US willingness to consider Soviet proposals at Geneva M s
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chastised Bonn for its stance on the zero option and pointed to the recent comments of CSU
leader Strauss as evidence of differences on INF policy within the Kohl government.
UK The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that leading Conservative back-
benchers told Defense Secretary Heseltine that the government must insist on
dual key because constituents are angry that the decision to fire the new
missiles lies solely in the hands of the US. The Times quoted Foreign
Secretary Pym as saying that "a compromise agreement ght have to be sought
if the Russians continue to reject President Reagan's zero option."
However, he echoed Thatcher's comment that any intermediate agreement must
be "balanced." Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie yesterday announced
his support for the campaign against nuclear weapons.
Germany After his meeting with Nitze, Defense Minister Woerner told reporters that
"he has no doubt that the US position is flexible enough to result in a
compromise." Vogel, in an interview published yesterday, reiterated that
the Soviet proposals on INF include some positive elements and that the US
should and will come forward with a counterproposal. He also maintained
that US and Soviet negotiators must somehow consider French and British
nuclear weapons, although these systems cannot be part of an agreement.
Vogel noted that CSU leader Strauss "has become one of the sharpest critics
of the zero option, putting himself 180 degrees from Kohl's position." On
the Vice President's trip, the independent Der Tagesspiegel observed Tuesday
that "Bush is particularly suitable because right from the beginning he did
not take part in the easy talk about the possibility of an atomic war in
Europe, the desirability of neutron weapons, etc." The paper also observed,
"It is known in Washington that Bush does not think too highly of the White
House earmarking $65 million for explaining President Reagan's policy to the
Europeans."
France Recent press articles show that Gaullist leader Chirac, Republican Party
(Giscardian) chief Leotard and Social Democratic (centrist) president
Mehaignerie approved of Mitterrand's Bundestag speech. One respected
military affairs commentator in Le Monde attacked critics of Mitterrand's
speech--including a former top adviser to Giscard--arguing that they stir up
fears of West German "militarism" while underrating the real dangers of
Soviet missiles.
Italy The media focused on President Reagan's State of the Union address, the
consensus being that the President was willing to move away from the zero
option ("Reagan Requests a Balanced Treaty"--"Reagan Invites the USSR To
Make Concrete Gestures--"The President is More Flexible"). The conservative
I1 Tempo declared that uncertainty over Soviet willingness to make
concessions is much more of an obstacle to agreement than American defense
of the zero option. PCI paper 1'Unita quotes Nitze's statement about the US
not being tied to the zero option.
USSR TASS yesterday accused Bonn of currying favor with the US by supporting the
zero option. The piece contrasted the government's position with the stance
of SPD leaders and claimed that Strauss' comments underscored dissension
within the Kohl government.
EUR M.83-10036
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Italy
The Italian press is beginning to emphasize the need for quick
agreement in Geneva and continues to highlight flexibility as the key
to success. The centrist newspaper Corriere Della Sera notes that
without immediate results, the USSR must either become tougher or run
the risk of negotiating after the Pershing II is deployed. The
Socialist paper Avanti declared that "time is of the essence" and that
"it is necessary to submit an honest proposal to the Soviets that
could bring about an agreement" to quell West European fears of
nuclear war and to counter Soviet propaganda.
Netherlands 25X1
De Volkskrant, in a recent editorial, cited US policy as the "main
cause" behind the European peace movement and claimed that the zero
option was forced on Western Europe by Washington. The editorial
concluded that NATO is not-suffering from a public relations crisis
but from bad political management.
Belgium Ambassador Price reports that Foreign Minister Tindemans was delighted
that the European Repair Facility for GLCMs will be sited in Belgium,
noting that "this will be very helpful, very helpful." Tindemans
argued that NATO should stick with the zero option, so far as the
Allies goal for the INF talks at Geneva is concerned. He said that
any move off that position will open an avenue for an avalanche of so-
called "compromise" and "necessary concessions." Tindemans emphasized
to Price later that to maintain credibility it would be essential that
consultation with the allies take place prior to any US shift from the
zero option, even if the shift is to a step-by-step approach that
retains the option as an ultimate goal.
USSR An unsigned editorial in yesterday's Soviet Russia reiterates General
Secretary Andropov's December proposal to dismantle hundreds of Soviet
missiles, "including more than one dozen SS-20s." The paper also
criticized the "latest statements from the Reagan Administration," as
indicating that the US still clings to the zero option.
Comment: Soviet press spokesmen this past month have argued that the
pendulum of public opinion in Western Europe and in the US has
perceptibly swung to the left. Soviet press commentaries can be
expected to continue their harsh line.
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