NSDD 247 Ratification of Existing Treaties Limiting Nuclear Testing

UNULHQUES UNCEASSIFIED 2 essential TTBT/PNET verification procedures which could be submitted to the Senate for its consideration in the form of a protocol or other appropriate codicil, I will, as a first order of business for the 100th Congress, request the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification of the TTB and PNE treaties. However, if the Soviet Union fails to agree to the required package of verification improvements prior to the convening of the 100th Congress, I will still seek Senate advice and consent, but with an appropriate reservation to the treaties that would ensure they would not take effect until I am able to certify they are effectively verifiable. Second, I informed the General Secretary that, once our TTBT/PNET verification concerns have been satisfied and the treaties have been ratified, I will propose that the United States and the Soviet Union immediately engage in negotiations on ways to implement a step-by-step parallel program -- in association with a program to reduce and ultimately eliminate all nuclear weapons -- of limiting and ultimately ending nuclear testing. Pending additional analysis, I have reserved judgement on the precise form such a step-by-step program might take or the forum in which such discussions might be held. In order to implement this decision, I request the Secretary of State to prepare, and submit for my approval not later than one week prior to the convening of the 100th Congress, an appropriate message seeking Senate advice and consent to ratification. The message should include a proposed reservation, to be prepared by the Secretaries of Defense and Energy jointly, that would ensure ratification would not take effect until I am able to certify the treaties are effectively verifiable. CHASSIFIED