Directive to the Soviet Representative at the United Nations

Per Point 41, Prot. No. 25^[1]

Top Secret

New York

Soviet Representative [to the United Nations]

2031. The proposal of non-aligned countries to include in the resolution regarding nuclear weapons non-proliferation (A/C.1/L.371), a call to nuclear weapons states to give assurance that they will not use, nor threaten to use, nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states does not accord with our position on this issue, as laid out in the 1 February 1966 missive of the Soviet government to the Committee of 18 States. Acceptance of this proposal would signify that we agree to take on the obligation not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states without regard to whether or not they have foreign nuclear weapons on their territory.

In discussing this proposal, proceed from the premise that the Soviet government, while expressing its readiness to include in the treaty on nuclear weapons non-proliferation an article containing an obligation of nuclear weapons states to not use such weapons against non-nuclear countries, has always indicated that this is about countries which do not have nuclear weapons on their territory. Carry out work with the authors of the draft of the resolution in that direction, so that they exclude Point 3 of the resolution part or refine it in the sense that a discussion about the non-use of nuclear weapons can be with regard to non-nuclear states which do not have such weapons of foreign origin on their territory.

If in the course of consultations it becomes clear that such corrections will not receive support from the majority of states, then it will not do to officially speak with them. In this case, you can vote for the draft resolution of non-aligned countries. However, when doing so, make a declaration in which you emphasize that the discussion on the non-use of nuclear weapons can only be in regard to those non-nuclear states which do not have foreign nuclear weapons placed on their territory. It is specifically from this standpoint that the Soviet Union proceeds and will proceed.

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^[1] Translator’s Note: The following information is extracted from Protocol No. 25 of the CPSU CC Politburo meeting, finalized on 3 and 10 November 1966 and covering numerous resolutions made during 29 October to 10 November 1966. A number of decisions were made during the meeting, including Point 41.