TNAG-0836-FCO40-1044-Comprehensive-Test-Ban-Treaty-national-seismic-stations-on-U-1979 — Page 64

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

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CONCLUSIONS

18.

As a first reaction, when the negotiations resume on 29 January, we could try to draw the Russians on the possibility of our accepting about 5 NSS, with an obligation in principle to accept 10 in all once suitable sites could be identified. But our assessment is that the Russians will not take such ideas seriously and will quickly reaffirm their insistence on 10 NSS in the UK and dependent territories. If so, we believe the UK should agree in principle, subject to acceptable arrangements for locations and costs, on the grounds that, while 10 NSS in the UK and dependent territories all technically quite unjustified, our agreement is politically necessary in order to secure an acceptable CTB treaty.

19.

are

This possible position, along with the whole subject of NSS and especially the question of the allocation of costs under the SVA, should be discussed with the Americans at the official talks arranged for 17-18 January. Unless the Americans disagree strongly, the UK delegation should act in accordance with the previous paragraph when the negotiations resume on 29 January.

20.

The question of which department of HMG should bear the UK share of the cost of NSS should be considered further when US reactions on this subject are known.

21.

-We should meanwhile consider further, including with the Americans and the authorities in the dependent territories concerned, the possible locations of NSS foreseen in paragraph 14 above, with a view to submitting a detailed proposal to Ministers as soon as possible.

Dd 427265 250M 5/77 905275

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