Able Archer 83 Document E9 Undated note from Defence Secretariat 171 with comments on the draft JIC paper.

Expresses concerns that the paper relies primarily on [content redacted]. Suggests modifications to the paper to suggest that information “may reflect concern in the Soviet Union that the West might initiate a nuclear war and that this might be done through a surprise attack under cover of an exercise” and says “We have [redacted] of heightened concern in the Soviet Union although some of the Warsaw Pact reaction to Able Archer may represent the takeup of limited and low key precautions against a surprise attack”.

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