30 May 1969: Washington, DC to External - ABM Speech by Dr. Foster

The Canadian Embassy in Washington forwarded an address by Dr. John S. Foster, Director of Defense Research and Engineering, to the Under Secretary of State for External Affairs. In the speech, Foster defended the administration’s Safeguard ABM policy, and emphasized the importance of a strong nuclear deterrent vis à vis the Soviet Union and eventually China.

Foster also contended that the action might support arms control efforts, as he stated: “a decision to deploy this first phase of Safeguard should encourage the Soviets to negotiate realistically about nuclear arms control. We don't know that it will encourage the Soviets. But we do know that a decision for Safeguard will not discourage them. We know from current Soviet statements and past history that the closer we move toward a ballistic missile defense, the more interested the Soviets become in arms control talks.”