19 



in the national interests of this country. But at this moment we 

 have not taken the decision that a treaty with fixes is the best 

 outcome. 



But, on the other hand, I hasten to add we certainly have not 

 taken a decision that would indicate that we don't think a treaty is 

 necessary. 



Chairman Zablocki. On the basis of your last statement on the 

 purpose of the review, let me rephrase the question. 



Is the purpose of the review to find reasons not to enter into a 

 conclusion of a comprehensive treaty? 



Mr. Malone. No, the purpose of the review is to assess what, as 

 I've characterized, is in the net national interests of the United 

 States in the broadest sense. 



Chairman Zablocki. And at the conclusion of the review, is the 

 goal of the administration to seek the conclusion of a comprehen- 

 sive treaty? [Laughter.] 



Mr. Malone. Again, Mr. Chairman, I have to say that that is not 

 now the position of this administration. We have not made that 

 judgment as yet. That is part and parcel of the process that we are 

 going through in the review. 



Chairman Zablocki. I understand that. I say after you complete 

 the review. 



Mr. Malone. We have not taken a judgment. It is possible that 

 we would come down on the no treaty option. That is a possibility. 

 It is not a conclusion. It is a possibility. 



Chairman Zablocki. With that possibility becoming a reality, 

 where does that put our country vis-a-vis the rest of the world? 



Mr. Malone. Again, that is part of the assessment that we are in 

 the process of making. Obviously we have to consider the non- 

 treaty situation and what would flow from that before we can fully 

 assess where that would lead us. I can't tell you now exactly where 

 it would lead us because we haven't come to our conclusions on 

 that. 



But it is something that is part of this very thorough and com- 

 prehensive evaluation that we now have underway. 



Chairman Zablocki. I see it is futile to pursue the issue. I am 

 not a lawyer. You are, and you are circling me around. I under- 

 stand it, and I would hope you would give it a direct answer, but 

 someday you will. Perhaps a month from now we will have you 

 back. [Laughter.] 



Chairman Zablocki. As I mentioned before, a consensus exists on 

 95 percent of the provisions in the text. Do you agree with that as 

 of now? 



Mr. Malone. There has been. Nothing, of course, is finally con- 

 cluded until everything is concluded. 



Chairman Zablocki. I'm not speaking about ratification. I am 

 now speaking about the text in its present state. 



Mr. Malone. I don't know whether I would characterize it as 95 

 percent, but there has been a general agreement up to this point 

 on an informal basis with something, I suppose, of about that 

 percentage. 



Chairman Zablocki. Is my understanding correct that new provi- 

 sions can only be accepted if those provisions offer the prospect of 

 achieving a substantially improved consensus? 



