20 



Mr. Malone. That is the ground rule. That is the rule that is 

 followed. Yes. 



Chairman Zablocki. And after the review you would hope that 

 whatever recommendations we make would improve the consen- 

 sus? 



Mr. Malone. Again, I have to come back to the point I just 

 made, Mr. Chairman. 



Yes, obviously, if it is our decision based upon our evaluation of 

 our national interest to move toward the treaty solution, then, 

 obviously, that is the way that we would want to move. 



But again I have to indicate that that is something that is part of 

 our review process. We have not concluded that. 



Chairman Zablocki. Under the ground rules that we both under- 

 stand, I think you are dreaming if it is going to improve the 

 consensus. 



Mr. Malone. Well, of course there is no consensus if the United 

 States does not participate. It takes all participants to create the 

 consensus. 



Chairman Zablocki. If the United States does not participate 

 then what is the future role that the United States can hope to 

 play? 



Mr. Malone. Again, I have at this juncture no reason to con- 

 clude that the United States will not participate, but again, that is 

 something that we are in the process of considering. 



Chairman Zablocki. My colleague from Washington said that 

 unless you cooperate, unless we are part of a team and work with 

 our allies and participate in the negotiations and don't insist total- 

 ly on our position, we will get nowhere. 



Mr. Malone. I recognize that, of course, Mr. Chairman. If we feel 

 that the way that we ought to move in this is merely to seek 

 certain changes in the treaty text, we would obviously want to 

 move along these lines. 



But that brings me back, of course, to the basic premise, which is 

 one that I cannot give you at this juncture an affirmative answer 

 to, because this is part of our review process. We have not made 

 this judgment yet. You are assuming the treaty solution and obvi- 

 ously what you say, given the treaty solution, follows. Yes. 



Chairman Zablocki. Well, I must join my colleague in hoping 

 and, indeed, praying that after the review you come to that conclu- 

 sion as soon as possible. 



Now let me move to another question, to follow up on what my 

 colleague from Washington referred to regarding some of the per- 

 sonnel — the key personnel — who are no longer involved. 



I understand that Mr. Leigh Ratiner has been given an office in 

 the State Department and was on the delegation to the 10th ses- 

 sion of the conference. Would you tell us what is Mr. Ratiner's 

 relation to the delegation and to you in the Department of State? 

 How was he selected and for what purpose? 



Mr. Malone. Mr. Ratiner is an adviser to the Department of 

 State. We have, of course, a number of advisers and experts. 



Chairman Zablocki. Experts of the same caliber as Mr. Ratiner? 



Mr. Malone. Certainly, yes. 



Chairman Zablocki. Hopefully better? [Laughter.] 



