Directive Sent to the Soviet Representative, New York [United Nations]

Per Point 39, Prot. No. 79^[1]

Secret

New York

Soviet Representative

Copy: Washington, London – Soviet Ambassador

First. With the goal of creating conditions for more successful examination of the issue of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons at the continuing XXII session of the General Assembly of the UN, it is necessary to immediately take steps to work out a corresponding draft of a General Assembly Resolution. Our interests would be met by such a draft resolution which would give a positive evaluation of the Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, drafted by the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee. Acceptance of such a decision by the General Assembly would facilitate accession to the treaty by a wider circle of states.

Second. It is necessary to change the American formulation relating to conducting further negotiations on disarmament issues in the Committee of 18 States. By itself, the idea of including in the draft resolution of the General Assembly provisions on such negotiations seem correct, since many non-nuclear countries are advancing requirements to implement further measures on disarmament right after the non-proliferation treaty, first and foremost – nuclear disarmament. The U.S.A., however, is proposing a formulation where it speaks to negotiations on arms control, which reflects the American approach to these negotiations, which, of course, is not acceptable. Instead of this formulation, you must propose to include a point which would correspond with the agreed to Article VI of the draft treaty on non-proliferation, accepted at the proposal of Sweden and a number of other non-nuclear countries.

Third. Deliver to Goldberg, and Caradon as well, the following sample text of the draft resolution on the issue of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons:

“The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2346 A (XXII) of 19 December 1967, 2153 A (XXI) of 17 November 1966, 2149 (XXI) of 4 November 1966, 2028 (XX) of 19 November 1965 and 1665 (XVI) of 4 December 1961,

Convinced of the urgency and extreme importance of the issue of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons,

Having considered the report of the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament and highly valuing the historical work of Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament on this issue,

Convinced that the treaty on non-proliferation, a draft of which is attached to the report of the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament, is an effective measure to halt the spread of nuclear weapons,

Convinced further that after agreement to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear weapons must follow effective measures to halt the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament and that the treaty on non-proliferation would facilitate this goal,

1. Commends the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution;

2. Requests the Depositary Governments to open the Treaty for signature and ratification at the earliest possible date;

3. Expresses the hope for the widest possible adherence to the treaty;

4. Requests the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament to quickly continue negotiations on effective measures to halt the nuclear arms race in the near future and for nuclear disarmament, as well as on a treaty for a general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control,

5. Requests the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament to present a report on the progress of its work at the XXIII session of the General Assembly.”

Fourth. After agreeing with the Americans and English on a draft of the General Assembly resolution on this basis, you should expand your work among other delegations at the UN so that as many other countries could be included as co-authors of the draft resolution, along with the USSR, USA, and England.

Fifth. Maintain contact with delegations from Socialist countries and inform them on the progress of preparations on the draft resolution. Proceed from the premise of the desire that those Socialist countries which express agreement on it are included among the co-authors of the draft.

Telegraph when carried out.

^[1] Translator’s Note: The following information is extracted from Protocol No. 79 of the CPSU CC Politburo meeting, finalized on 15 April 1968 and covering numerous resolutions made during 8 to 15 April 1968. A number of decisions were made during the meeting, including Point 39.