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you carry any message to President Reagan in advance of the

talks in Geneva between Mr. Schultz and Mr. Gromyko?

PRIME MINISTER

I believe that the Soviet Union is serious in wanting

reduction in armaments and, of course, the United States is

absolutely sincere in that objective.

It will take quite some time to work out the precise

fora in which reductions should be negotiated. As you know,

it is a question of whether the strategic missiles should be

treated as they were formerly, separately from the intermediate

ballistic missiles and then, of course, we must never forget

(sic! weapons?)

We ourselves negotiations on reductions of chemical warfare./

destroyed our own stockpile of chemical weapons many years ago.

The Soviet Union did not follow suit. The United States has

And of course, some, but the Soviet Union has a great deal.

conventional forces, that negotiation must continue.

So I think it will take quite a time to work out the

precise procedure and doubtless Mr. Schultz and Mr. Gromyko

will be turning their minds very much to this matter when

they meet, but I believe that both sides sincerely want

disarmament.

It must be balanced;

it must lead to a feeling

of security on both sides; it must be verifiable.

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