Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (Naval Aidd187 the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Guidelines, Sec. March 3-402 94-85 6, 1982 April 5, 1951 State By Dept. DEB NLT, Date TOP S E € R E T SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS FOUR-POWER At the 23rd session of the Paris talks EXPLORATORY TALKS yesterday the Soviet delegation tabled a new proposal: "Examination of the causes and effects of present international tensions in Europe and of means necessary to secure a real and lasting improvement in relations between the USSR, US, UK and France, including the following questions relating to: demilitarization of Germany; measures for reduction of armaments and armed forces of the USSR, UK, US and France, the existing level of armaments and armed forces and the establishment of appropriate international control; the fulfillment of present treaty obliga- - tions and agreements; the elimination of the threat of war and the fear of aggression. " Although there are still difficulties in this text, it does contain some Soviet concessions. Jessup feels that the Soviets have entered into a genuine negotiating phase now, and he notes the absence of propaganda motives in the new Soviet wording and points out that in the discussions in yesterday's meeting Gromyko avoided all harangue and explained several points of contention calmly and logically. We have advised Jessup of current thought here concerning proposals on inspection and verification, as well as control, regulation and limitation of armed forces and armaments. We feel that the system of census and verification will have real meaning only if it is undertaken on a continuing basis and in connection with a sys- tem of regulation and limitation of armed forces and armaments. We also believe that any such program would require a phased implementation over a considerable period of time. The program would have to cover para-military, security and police forces as well as regular armedforces and a manpower participation based on some population percentage. The Department believes such a program might also have to set a limitation on the percentage of national production which could be used for military purposes.