Page 294 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013/02/04 : NLC-24-67-4-3-4
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MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

November 19, 1977

MEMORANDUM FOR: ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI

FROM: JESSICA TUCHMAN ’
ROBERT PASTOR^,-

SUBJECT: Nuclear Talks in Brazil and Argentina

Attached at Tab A is a memorandum from State laying out a proposed strategy
for nuclear proliferation talks with Brazil and Argentina during Secretary
Vance's forthcoming trip. It arrived after Nye ai^d Smith had already
arrived in Argentina for preparatory talks, f

The memo says little about Argentina—only that we will seek a decision to
ratify the Treaty of Tlatelolco, but may have to settle only for a declaration
of intent to ratify (judging from recent intelligence reports, we may not even
get that much).

With regard to Brazil, State believes that time is on our side (growing
Brazilian dissatisfaction with the German deal; the next Brazilian President
seems to be more flexible on this issue; and increasing French pressure on
Pakistan) and that "Geisel is likely to reject cut of hand any package of
proposals we present at this time". State concludes therefore that we should
not present our proposal on the FRG/Brazil agreement and instead confine
these discussions to a general discussion of the "hemispheric security
problem".

We believe that this is a mistake. Since the Brazilians know that we have
already presented the proposal to the Germans, and since the President's
letter to Geisel made reference to Smith's presenting the details on this trip,
the Brazilians might be understandably offended if, after inviting Smith at
Carter's request, they find he has little to tal& about.

We also believe that the proposal should be sweetened by the addition of a
proposal for joint US-Brazil cooperation in non-nuclear energy R&D projects.
This is the proposal you approved in Pastor's recent memo.

RECOMMENDATION:
DECLASSIFIED
That you sign the memo to the President at Tab I. E.0.13526
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