September 14, 1972
Page 30660
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I will vote for Senate Joint Resolution 241, the interim agreement on offensive weapons, even though I strongly oppose the Jackson amendment which is now part of the resolution.
I believe the interim agreement can be a useful step toward control of the arms race. I hope that the House-Senate conferees will agree to the version which has already passed the House without encumbering amendments.
I regret that the Senate did not go on record in support of overall equality in the nuclear balance with the Soviet Union and in support of sufficiency in U.S. strategic defense. I do not believe it is advisable for the Senate, which must advise and consent to any subsequent SALT treaty, to urge restrictive minimal conditions upon our negotiators for the next round of negotiations.
But I do not believe the Senate passed the Jackson amendment with a view to making Senator JACKSON's interpretation of his language binding upon the administration. The White House has already made it clear that it does not support Senator JACKSON's elaborations and interpretations. I trust that our negotiators will feel free to interpret the Senate's action in the spirit which is best expressed by Senate approval of the Mansfield amendment to Senate Joint Resolution 241, with only one dissenting vote.
For these reasons I will vote for the interim agreement on offensive weapons.