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---t$1-NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE NRO STAFF October 21, 1971

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: NSAM 156 Working Group Meeting - SALT Ratification

On October 20, I attended a meeting which was held at

the State Department in response to the September 1 letter

which Dr. McLucas sent to Ambassador Johnson. The purpose

of the meeting was to initiate action toward recommending

a policy for treating the National Reconnaissance Program

while discussing "national means of verification" during

ratification of SALT agreements. The following people were

in attendance:

Defense -

NRO -

CIA -

OST -

NSC -

NASC -

NASA -

ACDA -

State -

Mr. Lawrence Eagleburger

Majo

Dr.

Dr. John Martin

Dr. John Walsh

Mr. Barry Carter

Dr. David Elliott

Mr. David Williamson

Mr. Richard Durham

Mr. John Shaw

Mr. W. E. Gathright

Mr. Shaw, the Chairman of the working group, began the

meeting by passing out a broad and general outline of a

prospective report. He felt that, in addition to our specific

question, the subject of statements to the public and the press

should also be taken into account. Mr. Shaw does not, at this

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time, feel that a tentative scenario should be created,

however, a reasonably comprehensive report will be a goal.

He also believes that Mr. Gerard Smith, Chief of the SALT

Delegation, should be brought into the 156 deliberations as

they progress.

Mr. Carter, NSC representative, interjected that the

National Security Council, following the commencement of

SALT VI, plans to undertake a larger study which will be

concerned with the overall prospect of moving SALT agreements through the Congress. He felt that the 156 Committee

effort should be expanded well beyond the NRO's intent.

Mr. Carter offered the opinion that the NRO would probably

need to be represented on the larger study which will be

reviewed by the Verification Panel.

Mr. Shaw asked me to comment on what we had intended

as the scope of the 156 deliberations. I responded by saying

that we had intended that the Committee deliberate alternative

ways to treat national means of verification, while under

review, in order that adverse impact on the continued ability

to conduct the NRP may be minimized.

Mr. Durham of AMA interjected that the 156 forum seems

to be proper for this kind of deliberation. Mr. Carter added

that it may be appropriate to expand this review to consider

the declassification and downgrading issue but displayed a

high degree of naivete toward the problem. I stated that

during the last few weeks, this issue had been examined once

again and that none of the principals seemed to desire or

see any need for considering downgrading or declassifying

at this time.

Discussion then turned to the dealings with Congress

and Dr. Steininger was queried as to the extent of Congressional

knowledge of the NRO. Re responded by saying that he thought

that there were approximately 100 members of the House and

the Senate who had been briefed to a variety of degrees on

our programs. There was some discussion relating to the

point that those who are briefed in the Congress are members

of a "club" and that this club would likely have to be expanded.

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Mk. Carter once again expressed the point that this

should be an exhaustive study and that "all the issues"

should be faced. Mr. Shaw then went around the table soliciting opinions. Dr. Steininger supported our view that a

study should concentrate on ratification of SALT as concerns

the NRO, however, it would likely expand into other pertinent

issues. Mr. Eagleburger added that the matter would have to

be "played by ear" and that alternative courses of action

should rightfully be considered during the current deliberations. Mr. Durham from ACDA stated that this issue appears

to be similar to the verification of the Seabed Treaty and

felt that national means may have to be exposed in order to

get both Seabed and SALT through the Congress. This notion

was discounted by the others in attendance.

The meeting concluded by Mr. Shaw stating that he would

draft a strawman paper which will be as complete as possible

for the present time and pass the paper to the working group

for comments. I expect that the next meeting of the working

group will occur sometime during the second or probably the

third week in November. I feel that the meeting was quite

good and that State is not predisposed to enter, in conjunction

with ACDA, a go-around on the fact of issue. I gained a very

distinct impression from the NSC representative that Dr.

Kissinger wants to have a carefully planned procedure for

moving SALT agreements through the Congressional and public

scrutiny so that the U.S. is not embarrassed by undue delay

in ratifying any agreements. The larger effort to be undertaken by the Verification Panel will likely include this

present 156 effort as a major part of its plan.

1 Attachment

Report Outline

Internal

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Report Outline 

- The Problem (general statement)

- Background

Negotiating record

Congressional Consultations to date

NATO Consultations to date

Public statements (e.g., President's, Secretary

of State's annual reports)

-- Recommendations

Background briefing of selected committees on verification capabilities (CIA) and negotiating record

on verification (ACDA/STATE).

Recommended line to take in public Congressional

hearings.

Recommended line to take in response to possible

press queries.

Probably no need for further consultations with

NATO on this issue.

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(STATE)