W poqmv W- I oun oma TELEGRAM Department of State 5 INDICATE a coma a CONFIDENTIAL 3 Classification 8 I 8 55m USUN new YORK 3130NEW some 928 ii IRISH ITEM NUCLEAR WEAPONS Immune sq isms was aIwa 1 USDEL should emphasize to Irish that while we sympathize with 1 objectives their proposal and are prepared join in analytical discussion there of in smart forum we strongly urge Irish revert to procedural resolution like that of last year In explaining our position USDEL should stress following points possession or custody a At present the US neither transfers Wad nuclear weapons nor intends to make such transfers Indeed it is restricted by law from so doingq b US still knows of no way of verifying ban on transfer as proposed by Ireland in View impossibility detect weapons concealed before or after agree- 3 ment extrema length national frontiers possibility smuggling fissionable material and weapons design in microfilm Just like narcotics This problems infinitely greater in dealing with closed societies of Communist bloc 0 c Requirement for effective inspection such a ban much more critical than for example test suspension Successful violation could endow nation with entire capability necessary to fight diversionary nuclear war d US has had bitter experience unverifiable declaratory agreements which society 'h I Dunn by - hlo nphic nap-mission sin-d a a 3W6 deadliest-on owns-d - 1' cargo I REPRODUCTION FE THISV COPY Is PROHIBI CONFDJENTIAL UNLESS Classificatior u I i he Spiers 0U EUR - Mr Nunl m D'Ilb vofiu buom v to USUN NEW YORK GHIJISSWGEQ CONFIDENTIAL Classification I ciet3r bound by democratic tradition and public opinion must respect but totalitar ian regime need not Some control worse than none if it restrains honorable govern- ment but provides cloak for clandestine action potential aggressor This factor plus open societies of West in contrast closed Cannmnist bloc societies makes it clearly impossible in our own interest to commit the US to such proposition as the Irish suggest In addition to do so would set a precedent for other such unverified pledge arrangements and in so doing would play directlv into Soviet hands a For these reasons US believes crux nuclear disarmament lies in areas production and weapons development and therefore until and unless fresh scientific developments permit alternative approach we favor the three-pronged attack on problem we have already proposed through inspected agreements on nuclear test discon tinuance fissionable material production cut-off nuclear weapons stockpiles by reduction transfers to peaceful uses f Ten nations failed examine any measure disarmament not just Irish proposal Failure due primarily Soviet insistence conference first agree in principle to negotiate GOD in its entirety We hope Soviets willing resume business-like negotia- tions soon at which time this item can be dealt with Only through negotiations of verifiable agreements can these problems be worked out It is for this reason that the US continues to urge the Soviet Union to resume negotiations and that the US has repeatedly indicated its readiness to do so innuediately 2 As suggested our position paper we realise prospects for referral resolution may be unfavorable Request therefore you keep Is i ionnmder continual assessment and keep department informed A I MM l l GONFEWHAL Classification This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu