DAILY SUMMARY OF POSITIONS ON INF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000500790008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 28, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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28 January 1983
Daily Summary of Positions on INF
West European media continue to dissect US statements on arms control issues.
French Gaullist leader Chirac expounds on the role of French nuclear s stems in the
Geneva talks. Moscow claims it is willing to scrap over 12 SS-ZOs.
UK Most British papers reported that President Reagan will be flexible in
-'- the Geneva talks, with the pro-Tory Daily_Mail quoting "White House
aides" to this effect. The media nearly unanimously predict that the
talks would mark time until after the West German elections, and that
an eventual settlement probably would involve limited deployments on
both sides. The Times editorialized that the Soviet offer to restrict
deployment of SS-20s to the same number as British and French nuclear
forces is "the worst of all possible solutions," and noted that talks
along those lines should be in START--with London at the negotiating
table.
West Kohl, in an interview Wednesday, warned the SPD against claiming
German that he had promised INF deployment in West Germany Sven if the
other West European countries refused. Kohl remarked that the SPD
should decide carefully whether it wants to inject the missile issue
into the election campaign. The PD's Egon Bahr is quoted by the
press as indicating that his party would view a reduction of Soviet
INF weapons to the 1975 or 1976 level as a sufficient reason for not
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France Lem notes that "it is clear ~hetresultsgofnthenWestPGermane from
its European allies and whatever
elections, will be led to abandon its 'zero option' to explore other
avenues as Nitze just indicated." The'pro-Socialist daily Le Mat in
uecently~~noted that the Vice President will have to explain U~-.
signals on INF to a "perplexed European public." That daily adds,
"It remains to be seen whose influence will carry the day in the White
House: that of moderate Republicans or that of the conservative
friends of Senator Helms, who has just obtained the head of Eugene
Rostow." Chirac told US Embassy officials on Tuesday that he believed
French nuclear systems "could be counted in the future under START
negotiations." He added, however, that this did not mean that French
forces Nould be reduced. He also restated his support for INF
deployments and his opposition to including French systems in any INF
aye ~ti.....
Canment: Par s, orrever, has consistently avoided even a vague
reference to hypothetical French participation in START. The
government's stand probably is dictated by at least two concerns:
French participation in START could lead to increased Soviet pressures
to limit French force modernization; if its forces are included in
overall Western force ceilings, France could come under US pressure to
abilities
f US
.
cap
reduce its forces, in order to permit enlargement o
EUR M 83-10037c ~~
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Italy
Netherlands
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 Euro can fears of
nuclear war and to counter Soviet propaganda
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
e o s ran ~n a recent editorial, cited US policy as the "main
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 dismant a 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 argue a e
pen~u~um 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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