CONFIDENTIAL
compliance with a CTB could be monitored from many of the locations suggested. In several cases, notably Hong Kong, the Russians obviously want ... to monitor nuclear testing in a state outside the Separate Verification Agreement. It may be legitimate to seek to enhance seismic monitoring coverage of the Southern Hemisphere, where there are gaps in the coverage. But that should be done under the International Seismic Data Exchange which will be one provision of the multilateral CTB treaty. I am pursuing these seismic questions with the MOD experts. But I should be grateful if recipients of this minute could provide fuller guidance on whether NSS would be politically acceptable, tolerable or impossible in each of the named territories. Please could replies reach me on Tuesday 5 December.
30 November 1978
listallak
CLG Mallaby
Arms Control and Disarmament Department
CONFIDENTIAL