Reagan Advises Arms Team ‘Piece of Paper’ Not Enough : Says He Wants a Solid Agreement, Warns Against Euphoria on Talks

President Reagan said today that the United States wants a solid agreement and not just “a piece of paper” in new nuclear arms negotiations with the Soviets and cautioned senior arms control advisers to guard against euphoria over the agreement to resume the talks.

Reagan conferred for 20 minutes in the Oval Office with Secretary of State George P. Shultz and members of the U.S. delegation that returned from Geneva with an agreement for new U.S.-Soviet arms control talks.

In advance of the Oval Office session, White House national security adviser Robert C. McFarlane held an hourlong session with the advisers.

Vice President George Bush and Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger also sat in on the meeting with Reagan.

Reagan thanked the group and congratulated them on their success, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said.

He quoted Reagan as telling the group it should have “no euphoria” and that “we can’t rest on our laurels. This is the beginning of a process.”

There was no discussion of talks between Moscow and Washington for setting a precise time and place for the resumption of talks, Speakes said. Nor was there any mention of who will head the American negotiating team.

Washington and Moscow are discussing through diplomatic channels the time and place for the negotiations to begin. They are expected to start in March.

Speakes said the President told the group he wants “comprehensive and thorough preparations” to be continued.

The spokesman added that Reagan said that while the United States wants an arms control agreement, “if it isn’t a good agreement, if it won’t work, we just don’t seek a piece of paper.”

Speakes said the President wants “the comprehensive and thorough preparations to be continued,” and warned that the negotiations will be tough.

“He pointed out that throughout the country people have great pride in American diplomacy,” Speakes added. Reagan, he said, called it “diplomacy at its best.”

Speakes said Shultz told the gathering that the negotiators were able to nail down an agreement, “get what we wanted in Geneva,” because of their advance preparations and Reagan’s instructions.

“We did not have to come back and ask for additional guidance,” Speakes quoted Shultz as saying. “We knew as a negotiator that we were free to walk away from the table if we didn’t get what we wanted.”

Reagan wished happy birthday to Shultz’s top adviser on arms control, Paul Nitze, who celebrated his 79th birthday.

In a separate statement, Reagan emphasized “my determination to reach agreements which bring about deep and verifiable reductions in nuclear forces, and which enhance strategic stability.”

“I am keenly aware of the hard work and long hours ahead for these dedicated people in carrying out the analyses needed to support American negotiating positions,” Reagan’s statement said.

“But I am confident that with the expertise and dedication each member of our team brings to this work, the United States will do its part to make the coming negotiations succeed.”