TEXT OF REAGAN REPORT TO CONGRESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505370025-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: November 22, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Approved For Release 2010/09/13: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505370025-6
THE NEW YORK .Trmes, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1985
Summit Finale: 'We Understand Each Oth& Better'
Text of Reagan Report to Congress
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Nov, 21? Following is the
text of President Reagan's remarks to Con-
gress today about the Geneva summit meet-
ing, as prepared for delivery:
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of
the Congress, distinguished guests, my fel-
low Americans:
It's great to be home. Nancy and I thank
you for thiS wonderful hoinecoming. And be-
fore I go on I want to say a personal thank-
you to Nancy. She was an outstanding ambas-
sador of good will for all of us. Thanks, part-
ner.
Mr. Speaker, Senator Dole, I want you to
know your statements of support were and
are greatly appreciated. You can't imagine
how much it means in dealing with the Sovi-
ets to have the Congress, the allies, and the
American people firmly behind me.
As you know, I have just come from
Geneva and talks with General Secretary
Gorbachev. In the past few days, we spent
over, 15 hours in Various meetings with the
General Secretary and the members of his of-
ficial party. Approximately five of those
hours were talks between Mr. Gorbachev and
myself, one on one. That was the best part ?
our fireside summit.
There will be,1,know, a great deal of com-
mentary and opinion as to what the meetings
produced and what they were like. There
were over 3,000 reporters in Geneva, so it's
possible there will be 3,000 opinions on what
happened. Maybe it's the old broadcaster in
me but I decided to file my own report di-
rectly to you.
'We 'made That Start'
We met, as we had to meet. I had called for
a fresh start :?-? and we made that start. I
can't claim we had a meeting of the minds on
such fundamentals as ideology or national
purpose ? but we understand each other bet-
ter. 'at's the key to peace. I gained a better
persOctive; I feel he did, too.
-It w4sa eqnstructiVe meeting. So constmo.
live, in factor that I look %Twat-4 to welcoming
Mr. Gorbachev to the United" States next
year, And I have accepted his invitation to go
to Moscow the following year.
I found Mr. Gorbachev to be an energetic
defender of Soviet policy. He was an eloquent
speaker, and a good listener. Our subject
matter was shaped by the facts of this cen-
tury.
These Past 40 years have not been an easy
time for the West or the world. You know the
facts; there is no need to recite the historical
record. Suffice it to say that the United States
cannot afford illusions about the nature of the
We cannot assume that their ideol-
ogy and purpose will change. ?
'Must Be Clear With Each Other'
This implieS enduring competition. Our
task is to assure that this competition re- ?
mains peaceful. With all that divides us, we
cannot afford to let confusion complicate
things further. We must be clear with each
other, and direct. We must pay each other the
tribute of candor.
When I took the oath of office for the first
time, we began dealing with the Soviet Union
in a way that was more realistic than in the
recent past. And so, in a very real Sense,
preparations for th9 summit started not
montlikago but five years ago when --, with
the help of Congress ? we began strengthen-
ing our economy, restoring our national will?
and rebuilding our defenses and alliances.
America is once again strong ? and our
strength has given us the ability to speak with
confidence and see that no true opportunity to
advance freedom and peace is lost. We must
not now abandon policies that work. I need
your continued support to keep America
strong.
That is the history behind the Geneva sum-
mit, that is the context in which it occurred.
And may I add that we were especially eager
that our meetings give a push to important
talks already under way on reducing nuclear
weapons. On this subject it would be foolish
not to gO the extra mile ? or in this case the
extra 4,000 miles.
No Issue Buried, He Says
We discussed the great issues of our time. I
made clear that before the first meeting that
no question would be swept aside, no issue
buried, just because either side found it W3- '
comfortable or inconvenient.
I brought these questions to *the summit
and put them before Mr. Gorbachev.
We discussed nuclear arms and how to re-
duce them. I explained our proposals for
equitable, verifiable and deep reductions. I
outlined my conviction that our proposals
would make not just for a world that seemed
safer but that really is safer.
lain pleased to report tonight that General
Secretary Gorbachev and I did make a meas.
_ tire of progress here. While we still have a ?
long ways to go, we're at least heading in the
right direction. We moved arms control for-
ward from where we were fast January,
when the Soviets returned to the table.
We are both instructing our negotiators to
hasten their vital work. The world is waiting
for results.
Pledge to Cut Nuclear Arms
Specifically, we agreed in Geneva that
each side should move to cut offensive nu-
clear arms by 50 percent in appropriate cate-
gories. In our joint statement we called for
early progress on this,. turning the talks to-
ward our chief goal, offensive reductions. We
called for an interim accord on intermediate-
range nuclear forces, leading, I hope,. to the
complete elimination of this class of missiles.
All this with tough verification.
We also made progress hi combating to-
gether the spread of nuclear weapons, in
arms control area in which we've cooperated
effectively over the years. We are also open- ,
ing a dialogue on combating the spread and
use of chemical weapons, while moving to
ban them altogether, Other arms control dia-
logue ? in Vienna on conventional forces,
and in Stockholm on lessening the chances
for a surprise attack in Europe ? also re-
ceived a bomt. Finally, we agreed to begin
work on risk reduction centers, a decision
that should give special satisfaction to Sena-
tors Nunn and Warner, who so ably promoted
this idea.
lie Described His Plan
I described our Strategic Defense Initiative
? our research effort that envisions the pos-
sibility of defensive systems which could ulti-
mately protect all nations against the danger
of nuclear war. This discussion produced
very direct exchange of views.
Mr. Gorbachev insisted that we might use
a strategic defense system to put offensive
weapons into space and establish nuclear su-
periority.
I made it clear that S.D.I. has nothing to do
with offensive weapons; that, instead, we are
investigating non-nuclear defensive systems
that Would only threaten offensive missiles,
not people. If our research succeeds, it will
bring much closer the safer, more stable
world we seek. Nations could defend, them-
selves against missile attack, and mankind,
at long last, escape the prison of mutual ter-
ror ? this is my dream.
So I weicomed the chance to tell Mr. Gor-
bachev that we are a nation that defends,
rather than attacks, that our alliances are de-
fensive, not offensive. We don't seek nuclear
superiority. We do not Seek a first strike ad-
vantage over the Soviet Union. Indeed, one of
my fundamental arms control objectives is to
get rid of first-strike weapons altogether.
This is why we have Proposed a 56 percent
reduction in the most threatening nuclear
weapons, especially those that could carry
out a first strike.
I went further in expressing our peaceful
intentions. I described our proposal in the
Geneva negotiations for a reciprocal pro-
gram of open laboratories and strategic de-
fense research. We are offering to permit
Soviet experts to see first hand that S.D.!.
"does not involve offensive weapons. Amer-
ican scientists would be allowed to visit com-
parable facilities of the Soviet strategic de-
fensive program, which, in fact, has involved
much more than research for many years.
Worldwide Missile Defense
Finally, I reassured Mr. Gorbachev on an-
other point. I promised that if our research
reveals that a defense 'against nuclear mis-
siles is possible, we would sit down with our
allies and the Soviet Union to see how to-
gether we could replace all strategic ballistic
missiles with such a defense, which threatens
ng one. We discussed threats to the peace in
several regions of the world. I explained my
proposals for a peace Process to stop the wars
in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Angola
and Cambodia, where insurgencies that
speak for the people are pitted against re-
gimes which obviously do not represent the
will or the approval of the people.
I tried to be very clear about where our
sympathies lie; I believe I succeeded.
We discussed human rights. We Americans
believe that history teaches no clearer lesson
than this: Those countries which represent
the rights of their own people tend, inevita-
bly, to respect the rights of their neighbors.
Human rights, therefore; is not an abstract
moral issue it is a peace issue. Finally, we
discussed the barriers to communication be-
tween our societies, and I elaborated on my
proposals for real people-to-people contacts
on a wide scale.
Americans should know that the people of
the Soviet Union their hopes and fears and
the facts of their lives. And citizens of the
Soviet Union need to know of America's deep
desire for peace and our unwavering attach-
ment to freedom.
As you can see, our talks were wide-rang-
ing. Let me at this point tell you what we
agreed upon and what we didn't.
We remain far apart on a number of issues,
as had to be expected. However, we reached
agreement on a number of matters, and, as I
mentioned, we agreed to continue meeting,
and this is important and very good. There 'S
always room for movement, action and
progress when people are talking to each
other instead of talking about each other.
New Agreement on Culture
We have concluded a new agreement de-
signed tO bring ? the best of America's artists
and academics to the Soviet Union. The ex-
hibits that will be included in this exchange
are one of the most effective ways for the
average Soviet citizen to learn about our way
of life. This agreement will also expand the
opportunities for Americans to experience
e Soviet people's rich cultural heritage, be-
cause their artists and academics will be
Corning here,
We have also decided to go forward with a
Reuters1
, LEAVING GENEVA; President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, as they prepared to
board plane for Brussels where Mr. Reagan met with NATO leadert
number of people-to-people initiatives that
will go beyond greater contact not only be-
tween the political leaders of our two coun-
tries but our respective students, teachers,
and others as well. We have emphasized
youth exchanges. This will help break down
stereotypet, build friendships, and, frankly,
provide an alternative to propaganda.
We have agreed to establish a new Soviet
consulate in New York and a new American
consulate in Kiev. This will bring a perma-
nent U.S. presence to the Ukraine for the first
time in decades. .
We have also, togethet with the Govern-
ment of Japan, concluded a Pacific air safety
agreement with the Soviet Union, This is de-
signed to set up cooperative measures to im-
prove civil air safety in that region. What
happened before must never be allowed to
happen again.
As a potential way of dealing with the
energy needs of the world of the future, we
have also advocated international coopera-
tion to explore the feasikility of developing
fusion energy. "1
All of these steps are part of a long-term ef-
fort to build a More stable relationship with
the Soviet Union. No one ever said it would be
easy. But we've come a long way.
Solutions to Regional Conflicts
As for Soviet expansionism in a number of
regions in the world ? while there is little
chance of immediate change, we will con-
tinue to support the heroic efforts of those
who fight for freedom. But we have also
agreed to continue, and to intensify, our
meetings with the Soviets on this and other
regional conflicts and to work toward politic
cal solutions.
We know the limits as well as the promise
Of summit meetings. This is, after all, the
11th summit qf the post-war era, and still the
differences endure. But we believe continued
meetings between the leaders of the United
States and the Soviet Upion can help bridge
those differences. -
The fact is, every new day begins with pos-
sibilities; it's up to us to fill it with the things
that mew, us toward progress and peace.
Hope, therefore, is a realistic attitude, and
despair an uninteresting little vice.
And so, was our journey worthwhile?
Thirty years ago, when he too had just re-
turned from a summit in Geneva, President
Eisenhower said, ". . the Wide gulf that .^
separates so far East and West . . . (is) . . .
wide and deep." Today, three decades later?,
that is still true.
But, yes, this meeting was Worthwhile for
both sides. Anew realism spawned the sum-,..,,
mit; the summit itself was a gqod start, an
now ont byword must be; Steady, as we go. ?.).
I am, as you are, Impatient for results. But ?
good will and good hopes do not always yield
lasting results. Quick fixes don't fix big prob-
lems. ? ? -
Just as we must avoid illusions o? n our side, -
so we must dispel them on the Soviet side. I
have made it clear to Mr. Gorbachev that we -
must reduce the mistrust and suspicions be- -
tween us if we are to do such thingi as reduce
arms, and this will take deeds, not, words
alone. I believe he is in agreement. '
Where do we go from here? Well, our de-
sire for improved relations is strong: We're 4
ready and eager for step-by-step progress.
We know that peace is not just the absence of '
war. We don't want a phony peace or a frail
peace; we did not go in pursuit of some kind' ' 4,
of illusory detente. We can't be satisfied with -i=1
cosmetic improvements that won't stand the "
test of time. We want seal peace. ; ' "
As I flew back this evening, I had many,
thoughts. In just a few days families across ! 4:
America will gather td celebrate Thaekselw;,.
ing. And again, as our forefathers who voy-
aged to America, we traveled te Geneva vrith
peace as our goal and freedom as our vide! r.
For there can be no-greater good than the ??
quest of peace, nor no finer purpose than the 2. t
preservation 'of freedom.
It is 350 years after the first Thanksgiving,
when Pilgrims Pilgrims and Indians huddled together 4
on the edge of an unknown cOntinent. And
now here we mil gathered together on the "
edge of an unknown future ? but, 14e .-
forefathers, really not so much afr-41, but' ;
full of hope, and trusting in God, as ever. -
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE NORMAN MAILER ? CANNES FILM FESTIVAL KISS ? NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
DAVID MAMET ? SANTA FE LIGHT OPERA ? THE BIG CHILL ? WARREN BEATTY ? SaSAN CHEEVER ? THE KENNEDY ,CENTER
CULTURE CLUB ? ISAAC STERN* DANCE THEATRE OF H.ARLEM ? BRIAN DE PALMA ? DIA.NE ARBUS ? LEONARD BERNSTEIN
ROCKY IV ? BLOSSOM MUSIC FESTIVAL ? LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ? TWVIA :THARP ? MERTL STREET" ? MILES DAVIS
NORA. EPI-IRON ? STEVEN SPIELBERG TURT/INTTTR ..Tr. A TITO. rime . cfix-yrAv
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