CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
CHAPTER II
DEFENCE AND DETENTE
The Government is working and will continue to work for
real and lasting detente in Europe through the North Atlantic
Alliance, which we regard as an instrument of detente no less
than of defence. Progress in pursuit of detente, if it is not
to be illusory, must be based on a strong and united NATO
Alliance, across the Atlantic and within Europe, and on genuine
attempts to negotiate measures of arms limitation and control
to provide a more stable relationship in Europe and undiminished
security for both East and West. Such attempts must take full
account of the military situation described below.
THE MILITARY BALANCE
2. The Soviet Union has achieved rough strategic nuclear parity
with the United States (recently re-affirmed by the Strategic
Arms Limitation agreement in principle at Vladivostok, referred
to in paragraph 32 below) and is developing an improved armoury
of strategic nuclear weapons designed at least to maintain it.
New delivery systems include four new types of Intercontinental
Ballistic Missiles (ICEMs), some of which are being developed to
carry Multiple Independently-targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs);
and further work is proceeding on the hardening of ICEM silos.
Delta class submarines, equipped with new submarine-launched
ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with a range of over 4,000 miles,
greatly increase the geographical area from which a strategic
nuclear threat against NATO can be mounted.
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CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL