There is a Greek-Turkish dispute over the islands, which involves overflight rights and the territorial sea. When we negotiate, all of these issues must be brought in so Turkey can give in other places what the Greeks have lost in Cyprus. They can't get back a satisfactory resolution in Cyprus alone.
The published a "Kissinger-plan" today. It actually is not bad. Maybe they got it from Iakavos. The British are sending someone here. I think we should approve their taking an initiative.
President: Go ahead.
Kissinger: I asked the Soviets for ideas. Dobrynin said they don't have a plan. They have the same problem as us -- they don't want to antagonize Turkey. It may be impossible to keep the issue out of the General Assembly in September.
On SALT
Let's do it not in terms of numbers. That would not be fair to the NSC. You just want to talk philosophy. The basic philosphy has been to look at what we and the Soviets were likely to do and then create a situation that the Soviet Union couldn't run away with the arms race.
We think we are at the limit of Congressional spending.
President: That's right, in the absence of a national crisis and a surge of patriotism.
Kissinger: We would need $5-10 billion a year to really kick our strategic forces up to a higher level.
We can't maintain that we can trade, etc. with the Soviet Union and still maintain that they are seeking a first strike and building strategic forces to match it.
Have you seen the numbers involved?
President: Not really.
Kissinger: We are now far ahead in warheads. They will gradually catch us as they MIRV their weapons. The question is what is significant and what is it worth to stay ahead of them. What is strategic superiority?
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