SYSTEM II 90091 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 0-0 20506 ACTION February 4 1986 MEMORANDUM TO JQHN M POINDEXTER FROM LL SUBJECT Letter to Allied Heads of State on Responding to Gorbachev With the departure of the Rowny Linhard and Nitze Lehman parties to consult in Asian and European capitals tomorrow pursuant to Tab A it is appropriate to send a Presidential letter to Allies to foreshadow the President's proposed response and facilitate the discussions with the Ambassadors in capitals This was the next step in our consultation plan Since the NSDD has been given very limited distributiOn we have crafted the proposed letter Tab B to cover the subject in more generalized language in order to orient their thinking but leaving the strict handling of the decision up to the Presidential teams The initial cut of the letter came from State without knowledge of the decision It has been modified accordingly but not coordinated in its present form with any agency We recommend that you seek the President's approval of the text of the letter If he approves the text we will have State send it electronically as White House Text no signed original to follow on Wednesday As a related matter Chancellor Kohl has written the President Tab C with his views on the Gorbachev proposals We understand you have already discussed this input with him Our review of the correspondence reveals nothing inconsistent with the President's decision we have acknowledged receipt in the tailored version of the letter for Bonn Recommendation That you obtain Presidential approval to send the draft letter at Tab to Allied Heads of State providing his views on a response to Gorbachev Approve Disapprove aimed Concurrence ujggh Mahley and Peter Sommer A a hme 1'1 1 E Email 15 13 ii a Tab A TS Tab Proposed Presidential Letter #2717 Tab Chancellor Kohl's Letter -- - hf 3 M3741 5335-115 Li rg Declassify on OADR