"will permit us not only to advance our nonproliferation goals, but will also permit the United States to function as a reliable nuclear supplier." The law requires all countries involved in nuclear trade with the United States to accept international inspection of all nuclear activities and to end such trade with a nation that sets off a nuclear device.
third countries; and • limits on promoting U.S. sales. Arms Control in Europe
knowledge since the 1960s. However, controversy develops on its possible deployment in Europe, principally West Germany. March 1978: The two sides in MBFR talks reach agreement on "modalities" involved in exchanging breakdowns of troop numbers. The seven NATO nations participating in the talks also subsequently make a "major new initiative" in which the West's proposal that the Soviets withdraw a single army of 68,000 troops and 1,700 tanks according to reports is modified: Such a withdrawal can now be spread over three countries. This would be matched by an American withdrawal of 29,000 troops and 1,000 nuclear warheads. The talks adjourn in April. April 1978: President Carter announces his decision to defer production of the neutron weapon, after receiving West German approval for its deployment in that country. However, the President says, "The ultimate decision regarding the incorporation of enhanced radiation features into our modernized battlefield weapons will be made later, and will be influenced by the degree to which the Soviet Union shows restraint in its conventional and nuclear arms programs and force deployments affecting the security of the United States and Western Europe." 0
July 1977: At the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction (MBFR) talks in Vienna -underway between NATO and the Warsaw Pact nations since November 1973-the West asks the East for a breakdown of its military manpower in Conventional Arms Transfers the area under discussion. The two sides March 1977: Secretary Vance's Moscow have exchanged figures on total troop visit results in an agreement with the strengths in the previous year, but the West Soviet Union to meet to discuss the world- contends that its estimates of Warsaw wide sale of conventional weapons. The Pact strength is '150,000 greater than those first talks are held the following December of the East, while the Pact's contention is in Washington, and a second session that approximate numerical parity in opens in May 1978 in Helsinki. The talks ground forces exists between the two. are described by Vance in an April 1978 July 1977: U.S. development of an speech as "an important step in our enhanced radiation and reduced blast efforts to bring about a serious inter- nuclear weapon is publicized in the press. national discussion on multilateral re- The so-called "neutron weapon" is destraint." signed specifically to defend against attack May 1977: President Carter announces by major armored forces. MBFR statistics' his conventional arms transfer policy. indicate that Warsaw Pact tanks out"The virtually unrestrained spread of number NATO's armored forces by three conventional weaponry threatens stability to one, and U.S. officials affirm that the in every region of the world," he says. neutron weapon-which penetrates tanks "Total arms sales in recent years have to kill the crew by radiation while limiting risen to over $20,000 million and the destruction from blast in areas adjacent United States accounts for more than half to the battlefield-is designed for NATO I believe that the use. The warhead has been under developof this amount.... United States must take steps to restrain ment since late 1950s and generally public its arms transfers." Exempting those countries allied with the United States in major defense treaties (NATO, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), the President ~~r------------------------... pledges to reduce the dollar volume of such exports the following year. February 1978: President Carter announces the specifics of his program to cut back conventional arms exports: A reduction of eight per cent for the year ending September 1978 from the previous fiscal year, down from $9,300 million worth in fiscal 1977 to $8,600 million worth. "I intend to make further reductions in the next fiscal year," he says. Name "The extent of next year's reduction will Address~ depend upon the world political situation and upon the degree of cooperation and understanding of other nations." He announces five specific controls on all I enclose payment of Rs 18 in favor of SPAN sales except to the exempt countries: o Balik Draft 0 Postal Order 0 Money Order • No first introduction of certain advanced systems into an area; • no U.S. development of advanced systems for export only; • restrictions on coproduction arrangements; '-• tighter controls on retransfers to
SPAN
~"""'4
To SPAN Magazine Subscription Service Post Box 213 New Delhi 110001
_ _
Magazine by
"Ale
Payee"
(receipt enclosed).
----J ~~