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A. Yes. I think the basis [for the next agreement] would be the Vladivostok terms,* perhaps expanded to some degree. This would be a satisfactory beginning [for negotiation]. I don't want to say that I'd adopt everything in the Vladivostok agreement. I would like to conclude this [new SALT agreement] before [the interim agreement expires in October].
Q. Would this involve a meeting with Brezhnev?
A. If necessary. I would guess that Mr. Brezhnev and I would meet during this coming year, probably before September. My own preference would be [to hold the meetings] in this country, but that would depend on a mutual decision between us. But I think that to get into discussions on the present SALT talks, we would lay the groundwork for much more drastic reductions in common nuclear capabilities.
Q. Would you want to include any destruction of existing nuclear armaments?
A. Yes. I would like to set that as a goal. The exchange that has taken place already between Secretary Brezhnev and myself has been to explore the possibility of a freeze on the number of missiles, the number of warheads, [leading to] some limits for this next SALT agreement below those that were established at Vladivostok. And then I would like to see a careful amount of mutual reduction in total numbers of atomic weapons between us and the Soviet Union, and I'd like to encourage, as much as I can, other nations to follow suit. In addition, I would like to see the termination of all tests of nuclear weapons. And I might add that there has been some indication that the Soviets agree with this proposal and have even put forward the possibility of on-site inspection.
Q. What sort of communication have you had with Brezhnev?
A. Indirectly, I've had messages from him to the Soviet ambassador here. I've also had messages through Averell Harriman when he was over there a few months ago. [Brezhnev] did write to congratulate me on my election, and I responded to thank him.
I've tried to be very cautious about acting as though I was already the President, so I've not met with any ambassadors or any foreign leaders, although I've had a lot of invitations. And I don't believe any President could possibly have been more gracious or more firm in his commitment to an orderly transition than President Ford has been. I really do appreciate it, and it's been a great service to the country, I believe. He could have just been polite about it, but he's been very forceful in directing his Cabinet to cooperate fully.
Q. On the Israeli-Arab crisis, the Soviet view seems to be that the Geneva conference should be resumed as soon as possible. Do you agree?
A. I don't yet know to what extent the U.S. should play a role in initiating a date [for such a conference]. I think the first step should be for me to meet with Mr. Rabin [the Israeli Prime Minister], Mr. Sadat [of Egypt], Mr. Assad [of Syria] and others—and then to decide what public proposal we might make to initiate any peace talks. Whether it would be appropriate to try to have exploratory meetings before the Israeli elections, I don't really know yet.