116. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
318694. For the Ambassador. Subject: Exchanges Initiatives for Geneva.
1. As you know, the President told Shevardnadze in their meeting at the White House that he would like to go beyond the traditional contacts and exchanges covered by the general exchanges agreement and come up with some bolder, more imaginative ways to increase cooperation and mutual understanding between our two countries. The President touched on a number of possible areas for cooperation, including education and language, drug and alcohol abuse, military to military, and sports and cultural activities.2
2. We would now like to propose to Shevardnadze a more complete list of the kind of bold initiatives the President had in mind. You should propose to Shevardnadze that we begin discussing these ideas with a view to announcing agreement on a package of them at Geneva, when we also hope to be in a position to sign the general exchanges agreement. You should stress that these initiatives are not inconsistent with the basic thrust of the exchanges agreement, but build on it and go beyond the traditional exchanges it provides for.
3. You should indicate to Shevardnadze that we are looking for new ideas which demonstrate a sincere effort on both sides to promote better understanding, work cooperatively on some of today’s most difficult human problems, and genuinely open up our societies to each other. We welcome their ideas in this same vein. We recognize that it will not be possible to move equally rapidly on all of these ideas. However, it is important to begin. We want to emphasize that the [Page 477] differences which separate us require bold new programs if we hope to begin to resolve basic differences and draw our future generations closer together.
4. You can share with Shevardnadze the following list of possible exchanges, which has been reviewed by NSC, USIA, Defense, and other concerned agencies.
5. Exchanges Initiatives
Educational Exchanges
An offer to cooperate in the development of microcomputer educational software for secondary school instruction.
Nomination of two distinguished educators or other public figures, one American, one Soviet, to undertake a major study of ways that we can increase mutual understanding by promoting the study of each other’s language in our respective countries.
A massive exchange of undergraduate students. As a start, at least 5,000 each way for a year of study in each other’s country.
Establishment of chairs of American studies at 10 Soviet universities with a reciprocal establishment of Soviet affairs chairs at 10 U.S. universities—all twenty to be filled annually by eminently qualified Soviet and American scholars.
Creation of a Soviet-American scholarship program similar to the Rhodes Scholars that annually would send 10 of the best and brightest students from each country to study at a distinguished university of the other.
People to People Exchanges
An ambitious “youth exchange” program for a year, or a summer, involving at least 5,000 secondary-school age youths who would live with families in the other country and either attend school or engage in cooperative summer camp projects with their local counterparts.
A massive expansion of “sister-city” relationships, with at least one “people-to-people” visit each year each way by city officials or delegations with an accompanying effort to increase general tourism between participating cities. The program could begin with 50 pairings the first year.
Increased Consultations
Inauguration of regular bilateral consultations on cooperative efforts to halt terrorism. These could be on the model of the regional consultations already underway.
Joint, regular consultations about efforts to combat alcoholism and drug abuse and trafficking.
Wider Information Exchanges
Establishment of national out-of-Embassy cultural centers and libraries in each other’s countries, with uncontrolled access.
[Page 478]Inauguration of regular media exchanges, with Soviet columnists writing once a month in American journals and American writers given similar regular space in Soviet publications. Regular TV discussion shows, at least an hour a month, between American and Soviet journalists and/or officials. Annual TV addresses by the leaders of our two countries to the people of the other. More exchange of radio and television programs coupled with an end to all jamming of foreign broadcasts.
Facilitation of Soviet satellite transmissions to America via “Gorizont” and Worldnet and other U.S. broadcasts to the Soviet Union.
Increased publication and distribution for each nation’s books and publications in the the other, including establishment of a book store in the Soviet Union as an outlet for American publications similar to book stores here which sell Soviet publications.
Sports Cooperation and Exchanges
A reciprocal televised exchange of each country’s best sports competitions, such as football, soccer, basketball and hockey.
An exchange of American football and baseball teams for a series of exhibition games and workshops in the Soviet Union, with reciprocal tours by Soviet hockey and soccer teams.
A proposal for joint sponsorship of an annual, televised Washington to Moscow or Moscow to Washington sporting “great race”. It could be open to entrants from any country and could be for cars, bicyclists, light planes or other vehicles. The Paris-Dakar auto race is one model.
A dramatic increase in binational sporting competitions across the entire sporting agenda, all to be jointly televised.
8. Action Requested
You should seek an early appointment with Shevardnadze to make the above points and stress our desire to announce new cooperative programs in Geneva when the general exchanges agreement is signed.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850011–0134. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Robinson; cleared by Ridgway, Wick, McKinley, Matlock, Palmer, Parris, Van Heuven, and L.D. Sell (EUR/SOV); approved by Shultz. On another copy of the telegram, Shultz wrote in the margin: “President signed off @ meeting on 10/16.” A stamped notation reading “GPS” appears on that copy of the telegram. (Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Secretary’s Meetings with the President (10/16/1985); NLR–775–18–87–1–6)↩
- In telegram 14805 from Moscow, October 18, Hartman reported that during his meeting with Shevardnadze, he presented the Foreign Minister with the list of areas for cooperation. Hartman wrote: “I recalled that the President had told Shevardnadze of his desire to explore visible ways for the people of our two countries to get to know each other better.” He continued: “In presenting the list, I stressed the ideas on it were purely illustrative; we welcomed their ideas on how to cooperate on pressing human problems and genuinely open up our societies to each other. It was important that the Soviet side understand that this initiative was inspired and fully backed by the President.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850011–0180)↩