By SMF, NARA, Date 3/27/00
Secret/Sensitive
To: Prime Minister Thatcher, Prime Minister Fanfani, Chancellor Kohl, Prime Minister Martens
Subject: Next Steps in INF
Dear [left blank]
1. In my last message of February 16 I invited your views on how to treat the INF issue so as to assure a united allied position and thus, counter [sic] Soviet efforts to delay or prevent the deployment or any real progress in Geneva. It seems to me that our consultations, particularly during the Vice President’s trip and in written exchanges since, have served that purpose very well.
2. As I stated in my message of February ___, my foremost concern is to proceed in a way which complements your own efforts and which sustains support for both tracks of the December ’79 decision. I remain committed to these goals. Toward that end I have directed that a prompt review of our position be undertaken discreetly so as not to invite a spate of Soviet pressure to which we would ultimately appear to be yielding. I expect that this review will produce the basis for new instructions to Paul Nitze providing for his introducing an interim proposal even as we maintain zero-zero as our goal. I will keep you informed and will of course seek your comments before reaching any decisions.
3. As we proceed, however, it would be helpful if we could avoid public calls from your European capitals for change or greater flexibility. Here again, since we are moving in this direction, it is unnecessary to put us in the apparent position of being the reluctant partner, which of course, we are not. Indeed, it would be extremely helpful if you were time find it possible to
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