Pages 16-20 from FCO 82-1724

The document appears to be a confidential summary of a meeting with a focus on European viewpoints in a post-meeting context. The summary highlights the following points:

1. The meeting provided an opportunity for main Europeans to discuss post-Reykjavik matters, including nuclear disarmament and ballistic missiles.
2. There is little evidence of French and German collaboration on the matter, with the UK maintaining a reserved position.
3. The meeting, chaired by von Ploetz, aimed to exchange views on strategic and arms control implications after Reykjavik, with discussions mainly focusing on arms control.
4. Von Ploetz emphasized the need to explore the next steps following the provisional agreements in Reykjavik, while the French argued against the "zero option."
5. The German position supported the terms provisionally agreed upon in Reykjavik, while the French and Italians argued for rejecting the European option.
6. The discussions also addressed the issue of ballistic missiles and the START treaty, with some European countries suggesting conditions and linkages to conventional imbalances.
7. There was concern about the conventional imbalance and the need for nuclear weapons until it was addressed, but no support for the French proposal to link conventional balance to INF.
8. French and German representatives provided six-point lists for future discussions, reflecting traditional alliance positions on nuclear deterrence and the coupling of US and European forces.
9. The participants agreed to communicate their views individually to the current Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) studies on the implications of Reykjavik.
10. There was general recognition that not engaging with the Americans might be seen as a green light, and the impact of a US breach of limits would be detrimental to the alliance.
11. The French were more relaxed on the issue of SALT but focused their concerns on other aspects of arms control.