249. Letter From Chairman Kosygin to President Johnson1
Dear Mr. President:
My colleagues and I have carefully considered your letter of June 22, 1968,2 concerning talks on strategic offensive and defensive nuclear weapons delivery systems. We are prepared to publish in the Soviet press and over the radio on July 1 the following statement of the Soviet Government:
“On the forthcoming talks on questions of curbing the strategic arms race.
“An agreement has been reached between the Government of the USSR and the USA to enter in the nearest future into talks on limitation and reduction of offensive strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems as well as systems of defense against ballistic missiles.”
We have no doubt that a statement in such a spirit made by our Governments should, undoubtedly, also further the task of inducing the adherence of the greatest number of states to the non-proliferation treaty.
Sincerely,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence File, Arms Control Messages Exchanged Between President Johnson and Chairman, USSR, Vol. I, Box 11.↩
- Document 248.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩