TNAG-1341-FCO40-17721-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1985 — Page 91

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you know, is permitted by the Treaty.

The Soviet Union will

The

If you go to

be doing research, the United States is doing research.

Soviet Union appears to have done some deployment on the

anti-satellite capability and possibly others. deploying any further weapons in space in connection with the

Strategic Defence Initiative, you could not do so without

negotiating about that. But as I understand it at the moment, not only the United States will continue with research on the

Strategic Defence Initiative, but the Soviet Union will be

It seems to ac that then doing a good deal of research too. both are in the same boat so far as doing research is concerned.

But nevertheless, it still seems to me, as you are looking at it from the viewpoint of balance and not superiority, if both

are doing research it is still not only legitimate but very

very desirable indeed that both should still also say that they want the nuclear weaponry balance at a lower level than

and therefore there should be good grounds for arranging

the talks to discuss that. But as you know, there are

many many things under the umbrella and I think it will take

some time to decide what kind of fora those discussions

shall take place in.

now,

QUESTION

But do you se that research – that specific research

as a bargaining point for the United States, given the Soviet

concern?

i