ABSTRACT
One of the most important contributions we can make is, of course, to lower the level of all arms, and particularly nuclear arms. We're engaged right now in several negotiations with the Soviet Union to bring about a mutual reduction of weapons. If the Soviet Union will join with us in the effort to achieve major arms reductions we will have succeeded in stabilizing the nuclear balance. In the meantime, we will continue to pursue real reductions in nuclear arms, negotiating from a position of strength that can be ensured only by modernizing our strategic forces. At the same time, we must take steps to reduce the risk of a conventional military conflict escalating to nuclear war by improving our non-nuclear capabilities. As we pursue the goal of defensive technologies, we recognize that the allies rely upon the strategic offensive power to deter attacks against them.
