NEW YORK TIMES REPORT ON CABINET DISCUSSION OF THE JCC TRIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R002904800021-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2009
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: May 3, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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New York Times Report on Cabinet Discussion
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They Call
Him Cap
the Knife
By CLYDE H. FARNSWORTH
Spedal to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, May 2 - There he
goes again.
In his first four years as Defense
Secretary, Caspar W. Weinberger re-
sisted any economic accommodation
with Moscow and rejected efforts to
trim the growth of United States mili-
tary spending.
He fought the European allies over
their willingness to help build and fi-
nance a Soviet natural gas pipeline.
He fought newspaper editors over
their insistence that reporters accom-
pany military units on such opera-
tions as the invasion of Grenada.
He is on the other hand ti-- r b
e a
'
THE NEW YORK TIMES, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1985
4To avoid inadvertently helping
Nicaragua in its request for economic
aid from Moscow. Theoretically, any-
thing that results in improved trade
relations with the United States could
help Moscow raise hard-currency
loans from banks in this country and
elsewhere, which in turn could help
the Sandinistas.
Mr. Weinberger's arguments did
not carry. The majority of the Na-
tional Security Council sided with Mr.
Baldrige, who told a reporter
Wednesday that the trip was on. "The
President is doing his best with the
Soviets to establish a better working
relationchin " Mr Rol
i
.
:w
r
ge
-
r
- The President did not attend the
net's most prolific writer of letters to Saturday meeting. the editor, acting, as he puts it, "to set y meetmg? Mr. Weinberger,
the record straight for the benefit of showing his obstinacy one more time
Congress and the public." when he thinks he is right, declined to
Over his objections a compromise accept the majority decision of his
was reached last month between the colleagues and has gone to the Presi-
White House and Senate Republicans dent directly, according to one in-
cutting the growth in the military formant. "We're still waiting to hear
budget for the next fiscal year to 3 the final results," the informant
percent on top of an increase to make added.
up for inflation - much less than On the Moscow `Wish List'
what he had deemed essential. Moscow has provided a "wish list"
Again over his protests the Cabinet of what it hopes to get from the meet-
agreed last winter to permit Com- ing with Mr. Baldrige. Some of the
merce Secretary Malcolm Baidrige advanced oil-exploration equipment
to visit Moscow May 20-21. The aim: on the list could also be used for sub-
to improve trade relations as part of a marine detection, according to Pen-
grand design in the Reagan Adminis- tagon sources. Another item is a plant
tration's second term to get a better to produce Kevlar, a material of high
political relationship with Moscow. strength, high tenacity and a high
Now Mr. Weinberger is living up to melting point used here to produce
his reputation as the most tenacious the MX missile. Yet another item is
and zealous of the President's Cabi- robotics.
net advisers. He has just made an un- "The Russians expect us to believe
usual 11th-hour appeal directly to Mr. they want this simply to help them
Reagan to block the Baidrige trip to manufacture blue jeans," one Admin-
Moscow. istration official said.
Rarely does one Cabinet officer op- Mr. Weinberger is consistent. He
pose another's journey abroad. But has argued for years that Western
this time the stakes are much higher technolgy has been of immeasurable
than usual, according to Administra- aid in Moscow's military buildup. He
tion officials close to the Pentagon opposes sales of energy equipment
chief who disclosed details of the ac- because oil exports have been Mos-
tion on condition that they not be iden- cow's principal source of hard-cur-
tified. rency earnings, which also support
Last Saturday at a meeting of the the military buildup, he says.
National Security Council Mr. Wein- Whether it be trade with Moscow,
berger argued that the trip should be the budget conflicts or any other point
canceled or at least postponed for of Washington battle, most of those
three reasons.: who have dealt with Mr. Weinberger
4To protest the March 24 killing of have come away impressed by his
Maj. Arthur D. Nicholson Jr. by a pertinacity, if not by his point of view.
Soviet soldier in East Germany. "He's a million rubber bands in his
4To prevent Mr. Baldrige from en- resilience," said Senator Alan K.
tering into any commitments in Mos- Simpson, Republican of Wyoming,
cow that would lead to United States after one of the budget battles. "You
sales of advanced oil industry equip- can't come away without the richest
ment that the Russians are seeking to regard for the tenacity of the man."
boost lagging oil production.
B6
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