No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 20 NLC-SAFE 4 C-33-8-2-1 · --- -- ' J f' MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WA SHlNGTON TOP SECRET SENSITIVE November 11 1977 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT Conversation with Minister Counselor Vladillen Vasev of the Soviet Embassy 9 00 a m Friday November 11 1977 Minister Vasev and I talked about SALT Comprehensive Test Ban telecommunications and microwave jamming and some specific bilateral issues SALT Minister Vasev wanted to know our views on how fast we should move in the negotiations and how important are the remaining issues He said Moscow wanted to move as fast as possible but that the Embassy looking at the internal American-situation was less optimistic about how fast SALT could be concluded I allowed that there were considerations of timing with regard to the Congress but I said we had made no decision to artif1cally slow down SALT I agreed we had made very important progress in SALT but said that the remaining issues were important too Comprehensive Test Ban I asked Vasev for an explanation of Brezhnev's recent proposals regarding PNE 1 s He said that the moratorium on PNE's would be parallel to the treaty banning weapons tests and would be a corollary to it I said we _would have difficulty with any arrangement whereby the moratorium might lapse but the treaty baru1ing weapons tests wou1d continue He said their corollary approach would solve that problem but was not specific about the precise interrelations between termination or rene Wal of the PNE Protocol and termination and renewal of the Treaty Telecommunications -- Intercepts and Microwaves ' This was the main subject of the meeting I revi wed our concern over Soviet microwave flooding of our Emba1 sy and intel ' pt activities in -Washington I recalled in some detail the history of the discussions between Hyland and Vorontsov I explained that wa -would soon be briefing the Congress on the protective measures we would be taking in regard to · communications intercepts and I said they could expect to have a spate of stories about the problem Finally I emphasized that we could not TOP SECRET SENSITIVE ·- - - - - No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 20 NLC-SAFE 4 C-33-8-2-1 No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 20 NLC-SAFE 4 C-33-8-2-1 • TOP SECBET SENSITl lE - 2 - accept the situation where individual Americans had either their health or their privacy jeopardized by these sorts of activities I said it had become a political matLer with potentially serious adverse consequences on our relationship and therefore at a political level it was necessary to exert control over such activities I suggested to Vasev that we pick up where Hyland and Vorontsov had left off I noted that we tore down one of the shacks on the top of our Embassy that they had temporarily reduced microwave radiation but that it had now increased again and I said they had not gone ahead with what we understood to be an arrangement whereby they would tear down the shack on top of their Embassy I stressed that that shack on their Embassy would become politically contentious because it was visible and already the object of photographs I suggested that the solution was their turning down and ending the microwave radiation at our Embassy and tearing down the shack on top of their Embassy Vasev said that this was a very sensitive matter -- that he was not in a position to even speculate about the Soviet response He urged that I read carefully Ambassador Dobrynin's most recent reply to Ben Read on the question of microwaves in Moscow saying it had been approved at a very high level and was carefully drafted to be responsive He said the whole problem had started when someone in the United States had found it necessary to brag about how good U S intercept capabilities were in Moscow this must refer to the Jack Anderson column several years ago of the effectiveness of our Gamma Guppy operation against their automobile radio phone system He said that he would get back to me on the intercept question and noted that their Embassy had a good record in being able to raise sensitive issues such as this with their authorities Other Issues Vasev complained about the fact that the Soviet Trade Exhibition in Los Angeles would have a counter-exhibition in the same building with the same entrance on the subject of Sixty Years' Suppression of Russian Jews He also complained that a recent group of Soviet Mayors was refused entrance into the United States on its way to Guadelupe due to visa technicalities Vasev was particularly concerned about the level Delegation would be received in Washington He would contain candidate members of the Politburo I could let him know at what level they would be Washington at which the Soviet Governors mentioned that the delegation and asked specifically if accorded a reception in J _tL_ _____ _ David Aaron --Deputy Assis'tant to the President for National Security Affairs TOP SECR T SENSITIVE No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 20· NLC SAFE 4 C-33-8-2-1