General Scowcroft to Henry Kissenger

This document, marked as Secret/Sensitive, is a memorandum from Secretary Kissinger to General Scowcroft. It discusses the Indian nuclear test and provides reasons why it would be unwise to organize a worldwide reaction to it. The memorandum suggests that such a reaction would antagonize India without providing any benefits, and it highlights the self-serving nature of US foreign policy. It argues that the impact of the US expressing its concerns on other countries' nuclear programs would be marginal. Instead, Secretary Kissinger requests a comprehensive review of the non-proliferation program to understand the implications of the Indian test better and avoid hasty reactions. It also instructs that administration spokespeople should only respond to individual inquiries about the test and follow a low-key approach, emphasizing the long-standing US position against nuclear proliferation. Finally, the memorandum asks General Scowcroft to contact Haig for support on this policy from the Department of Defense (DOD) and others.