Another aspect of my 1978 "International Diplomatic Work...on a direct basis" for the Carter
Administration had been the preliminary work for the American-Soviet "Euromissiles" elimination
treaty now before the U.S. Congress for ratification or rejection.
We recognized, of course, that while true and durable world "peace, security, and justice"
could never be guaranteed by the nuclear deterrent, still there were many benefits
prospectively for human beings and in relation to economic priorities that could be drawn from
a "legitimate" nuclear arms reduction program.
As indicated by me to Glenn Babb, "concerning" this i wrote to Bernard Wood of Canada's
"North-South Institute" (you may know of him as he was subsequently appointed as Prime Minister
Mulroney's special envoy to study the South Africa issue), in June, 1985 because i had read
reports suggesting he held similar views on the issue of "the interdependence of disarmament
and development" to those expressed in my "International Diplomatic Work...on a direct basis"
in and since 1978--and he sent me a letter as indicated by this repeated enclosed copy, along
with the document requested.
I had actually prepared a considerable amount of work in this field in 1978, President Botha,
before my "leave of absence," but there was a request by me that i not be drawn too far into
the debate because i felt there were authorities and experts in the field better qualified to
handle it...beyond my preliminary briefs.
I bring it up again now because i don't believe it likely that there won't be broader public
awareness of my part in working towards the present treaty soon. I had done as much work as i
did because of the breakdown in East-West relations following the Soviet cancellation of the
Fleetwood Mac goodwill concert tour and the human rights trial of Anatoly Shcharansky. An
essential aspect of our ardent efforts to re-establish good relations with the Soviets that
would facilitate ratification of both SALT II and such a treaty beyond it was my work at that
time (and since) as i briefly describe here.
The deal pending now is very similar to the plan i helped prepare in 1978, except that that if
the Soviets had adopted it in "principle" as was outlined by me originally, they never would
have put in their SS-20s in the first place, and the N.A.T.O. side wouldn't have had to put in
the Pershing IIs and ground-launched cruise missiles in response.
However, my point here is not to suggest this has to be included in this statement to you because both Prime Minister Mulroney and i respect the work and evaluations of Bernard Wood.
My point here is that a number of years ago i began a friendly relationship with one of the leaders of British Columbia's biggest peace groups, "End the Arms Race", so that they would understand what we had planned in 1978 in anticipation of groups like the one he belonged to. Accordingly, you should understand right from the beginning that much of this "International Diplomatic Work...on a direct basis" i prepared relates to the issue of world "peace, security, and justice" because of what nuclear weapons can cause if used.
That notwithstanding, when i wanted to get in touch with Donald Woods in early-1986 because i
had included the excerpt from "Biko" enclosed here in a submission to some of the popular
entertainers i had been in touch with during the earlier states of this work, i phoned my
friend to ask him if he knew a way i could.
I was directed to Vancouver's "Southern Africa Action Coalition" by my "End the Arms Race"
friend, so i phoned them for Mr. Woods' address.
They told me they didn't know how to get in touch with him, but asked why i wanted to.
As i recall presently telling the South Africa regime in 1978, because there were popular entertainers involved who were in the public eye and thus who would be hindered by unjustifiable secrecy about (what) we planned following the Soviet cancellation of the Fleetwood Mac goodwill concert tour and simultaneous human rights trial of Anatoly Shcharansky --and after all, true and "legitimate" peace and help for the needy and worthy causes are hardly matters for top secret classifications--President Carter allowed me to make statements to the press in 1978 and thereafter.
So, as i had already done with "End the Arms Race" by then, i told "The Southern African Action
Coalition" about my work for Jimmy Carter and the U.N. and explained my interests in the field
of their "concerns" in basic terms.