CABLE TO GERARD SMITH FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2011
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: August 3, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

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T 0 P S E C. R E I SENSITIVE
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' ONOV'S GAME' OUT, HE HAS PLAYED IT LONG ENOUGH NOW AND IT
IS' T I 'E TO GET, 004 TO BUSINESS.
IT NOW APPEARS THAT WE MAY BE PURSUING A PLETHORA OF
ESOTERIC ISSUES AND RISKING A MORE RAPID PACE BY A SERI'S
OF DIVERSION ON MATTERS WHICH INVOLVE THE SPECIALIZED
CONCERNS OF ARMS LIMITATIONS EXPERTS BUT WHICH IN THE FINAL
AN'LYEIS CONSTITUTE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING THE KIND OF
MOMENTUM WE HAD HOPED FOR.
WITH R.ES'PEOT TO THE ZERO AaM PROPOSAL, I MUST SAY THAT
I HELD Tf1E B = IEF, BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS WITH DOBRYNIN,
THAT SUCH A. PROPOSAL WOULD NEVER BE SE*IOUSLY CONSIDERED
BY THE SOVIETS BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE THE COSTLY DISMitNTLINO
OF ASSETS WHICH -T`MEY HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED' FOR. BUT I WILL
YIELD TO WISCR1 HEADS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT MY CONCERNS MAY NOT BE WELL FOUNDED
BUT WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE REASSURANCE FROM YO1J 4ND THE:;
BENEFITS OF YOUR OWN ESTIMATE OF THE WORK SCHEDULE YOU
VISUALIZE FOR THE. DAYS AHEAD. THE FOREGOING IS NOT SUGur:STE::D
BY WAY OF CR'UCISM OUT RATHER AN EXPRESSION OF MY OWN
PERSONAL CONCERN THAT WE MAY BE TRAVELING DQWN TOO MANY
BYWAYS WHICH COULD DIVERT US FROM THE LLTIMATE GOAL WE ALL
SEEK* THIS HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN TO THE PRESIDENT OR DISCUSSED
WH1791
AUGUST 30 1971
HARD SMITH
I AM BE "ING SOMEWHAT CONCERNED BY WHAT APPEARS TO
BE THE LEISURELY PACE AT WHICH THE CURRENT ROUND IS
PROCEEDING. HAP ANTICIPATED THAT AFTER THE MAY 2
ANNOUNCEMENT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY IN T
DIRECTION OF ,AN AGREEMENT WHICH, WOULD BE ' CONSISTENT WITH
THE UNDERSTANDINGS SET FORTH AT THAT TIME. I CA+ SEE
WaKM RES
NNNN
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03 : LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
25X1
EXCLUSIVELY EY 8 ONLY FOR "AMBASSADOR G
FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
August 3, 1971
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
I am becoming somewhat concerned by what appears to be the
leisurely pace at which the current round is proceeding. I had
anticipated that after the May 20 announcement we would be able to
move expeditiously in the direction of an agreement which would be
consistent with the understandings set forth at that time. I can see
Semonov's game but he has played it long enough now and it is time
to get down to business.
It now appears that we may be pursuing a plethora of esoteric
issues and risking a more rapid pace by a series of diversions on
matters which involve the specialized concerns of arms limitations
experts but which in the final analysis constitute barriers to achieving
the kind of momentum we had hoped for.
With respect to the zero ABM proposal, I must say that I held
the belief, based on my conversations with Dobrynin, that such a
proposal would never be seriously considered by the Soviets because
it would require the costly dismantling of assets which they have
already provided for. But I will yield to wiser heads.
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
I recognize that my concerns may not be well founded but would
very much appreciate reassurance from you and the benefits of your
own estimate of the work schedule you visualize for the days ahead.
The foregoing is not suggested by way of criticism but rather an ex-.
pression of my own personal concern that we may be traveling down
too many byways which could divert us from the ultimate goal we all
seek. This has not been shown to the President or discussed with
him.
Warm regards.
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
1P V
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
August 3, 1971
4
I am becoming somewhat concerned what appears to be
the leisurely pace at which the current round is proceeding. I had
anticipated that after the May 20 announcement we would be able to
move expeditiously in the direction of an agreement which would be
I All
G : ..
-
b
It now appears that
we may
e p
issues and risking a more rapid pace by a series of diversions on
matters which involve the specialized concerns of arms limitations
experts but which in the final analysis constitute barriers to achieving
the kind of momentum we had hoped for.
With respect to the zero ABM proposal, I must say that I held
.~ > - e. ._ . . ? srz y ~ xse. s a ~~ ~a y~ c. `r y ~~ ~i5 ~~ ,...Z
the belief anel 9kik - that such a proposal would never be seriously
considered by the Soviets because it would require the costly dis-
mantling of assets which they have already provided for.
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY -2-
I recognize that my concerns may not be well founded but would
very much appreciate reassurance from you and the benefits of your
own estimate of the work schedule you visualize for the days ahead.
The foregoing is not suggested by way of criticism but rather an ex-
pression of my own personal concern that we may be traveling down
tdama y byways which could( estricPthe ultimate goal we all seek.
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
EXCLUSIVELY EYES ONLY
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/02/03: LOC-HAK-486-10-38-0