- -- ' - - - - ' Copy Nr _of _D GOVERNMENT DAT 0 rJ c SUBJECT ' o The attached memorandum is circulated in advance in preparation for discussion at a meeting this afternoon at 2 15 p mo ' t' I ' o ' i o o o o II ' l o ' t ' I o I I ' i Attachments l Memorandum to The Acting Secretary froc Mr Elbrick by RA LUnger ll 56 2 Memorandum to The Secretary from Mr Beam dated October 16 1956 photostat ' 3 Letter to Secretary of Defense Wilson o I frcm l r Hoover by RA LUnger 11 7 56 Enclosure l cmorandum for the President from the Acting Secretary of State Secretary of Defense by RA I1Tnger 11 5 56 EOR RA LUnger adm J J 7 56 i '' o l ' ' ' November 7 1956 SF CRBT a oo o r - t o ooo o o oo o 11 - I I f lf r o oo - ' - - - _ _ j '1 l Ji 1 1 f _ _ ___ -- o' - ---- - - - J r i AACH1viGBP oo o t ooo ff or ot c a n l Li l'f'J - - - _ L o _ 1' f 1 f V - IIEPROOIJCEO T 11 e NoTJONoL AsslSTANT SECRETI RY SECR T To Th e Acting Socrota ry Through s s From EUR - Ur Elbrick Subjoct Proe roru to Incroaso NATO Uuoloa r Ce p lbility o nd Secure Cort lin Baso Rights Several wooks ago tho Secreto ry o pproved o momorondum on thi ubject eoo Tab A which propo ed our undertaking o numbor of tops loading to nn o nnouncomont by the United Sto tes at tho Docomber NATO llinistorio l mooting th lt v o o re preparod to offer HATO countrio training in tho omployinent of o tomic woo pons subject to certain o rrnngemont In this connection wo would be prepared to reply i f questioned that we would mako atomic weapons av i ilable to llATO force tro inod in their u e if and whon this should become nocossnry in view of an omorgency fo cing MATO We also proposed that in o ccordonce with Amba sador Dillon's suixestion ho be outhorized to make a spocific offer of trainine to the Freneh o nd at the somo time seek French agree- ment to tho introduction o nd storae o by the United Sto tes of nuclear woo pons in Fro nco ' If we aro to adhere to tho pree rwn rocommended in the i tto chod momoro ndum it ic now in order in concert with tho Departmont of Dofenso o nd after informing tho Atomic Energy Co Dlnission of our intentions t o seek tho Prosidontos o pprovo l For that purpose o letter from you to tho Socrot i ry of Defense with o propo3od momorandwn to tho President from you o nd L r Wil3on has been prepared for your signature and is o tto ched o t Tab B I believe however th l t you mo y wish to roviow tho Secretaryo s earlior o pproval i n tho lie ht of tho subsequent developments in tho Middl e East To fo cilitato this I nm li tine bolow what it eci 13 to mo are the principo l o rgumonts in fo vor o nd ago inst proceedinr now with tho recommended program I n Favor lo I l As noted in tho e ttachod memorondum incroe inc tho nucloar capability of NATO i desirod by United States military o uthoritios o s o n enhancement of our socurit-J o nd the milit i ry h lvo in tho po st few days con firmod thoi r active support of t his plan i fe ond they aro bot h persuadcid that it would give tho defense progro ms of our HATO allies o p ychologico l lift Clt a time whon it is badly needed 2 Plo nning for SECRET l L - - -- -- DECli SSirlEO l'J r't oii _ Cl 'L'D1 '1' o ' ' ' iw - ' _' - - tli ' o - _1 v 4' UEPO OOUC O J T THE NATIOf'lA L AnCfflV Cl' ' r- 7 Authority IV IV L 72 Q v1 Byc t V ' NARA A r ' 4f -- -1- t - - o -- 7 _- _ '- 1_ o 2 Pl ine for tho use of atomic 1eapo i s has bi en accepted by l ATO for come time and we must be preparod to deal with tho question of how NATO forcec othor than thoso of tho United State and the Unitod KinGdom would socuro o n atomic capability In tho rlATO Council mectine of Octobor 23 this quostion wa specifically raised by a Dolgio n roprosontativo seo Tab c 3 Tho independent action takon by tho French with rozo rd to Palestine ou e oirts oven more otrongly tho dosiro bility of cookine to exert somo control ovor French uso of o tomic weo pon through tho llATO multilatoro l approach to tho woapo i n quostion i iven tho f act that tho Fronch will shortly bo o blo to p1 oduce woo pono for tho ilselves in M ' event Tho tlATO nl lio nco is n fundwnont il article of lJnitod Stntos socurity o nd fo r oi n policy o nd divisive forces which t hroe ton NATO hould be cornbo tod with initio ti voo on our po r t which will contribute to-r1o rd tho co rl i cst po ihlo rocemonti le of the tio runone tho o llioo 4 1 Rocont ovents in tho Uiddlo Enst may have ctrone thcnod tho rosorvo tion held in certain Tl ited Sto tos quarters about proceeding with tho trainin of JATO cou 'ltrics in tho uso of atomic weapons or may have br ou ht o bo ut at loo 3t o wait o nd seo o ttitudo Thero mo y be a soriou question o s to whothor the Atomic Energy Comraission and tho Joint Con r c33ionnl Comrnitteo wnone othor s would be prepared now to see this prot ram r o forward and it is not to bo ruled out that thoir opposition Y10uld be so strong in the present atmosphorc a to provent our revivin this project oven at a considerably later date 2 The recommondod pro ram is somethini new for lf LTO nud wo ho vo not thu fo r rovoalod to o ny or the MA' 'O countries our intentions in this matter Tho fact that wo ouspondod action -ii thin tho United Statos Government wou ld not bocomo kno m nnd t herefore would not risk boine intorprotod by our allio nr an i ndi cat ion that we arc ullint2 bnck from full cooper i tion in the NATO al lio nco I 3 It i not now possible to prodict the courso of action in the 1 idd lo Eust but it is quito possi ble thnt our recommended pro 0rw i mi ht reC ch a criti cal point uch o offorin3 the French trainin in the uso of atomic weapons ju t when J liddlo E i st development would encouraGC tho distortion and misu o of such o ction on our po rt in o ma lller seriou sly drunar i lr to United State i nterest o Conc l usi on The proGrOJU upprovod by t ho Secret ary on tho ba i of tho rncmoro nlium at Tab A continue to bo of fund imonto l ir lport in- o to th co 1tinuod dovolon111ent and olidarity of t ho H TO o llionco ind shou ld move forward SECRET - n rapidly ' ijp J o ' I 'I o ' o u rapidly ai circum tonco r ormit Tho iltunodiutc quostion is whether it continuos to bo udvi ublc to follow tho Gchodulc outlined in the memorandum undor rofcronco which ono i ai e on a mouncc nont at t ho Docombor L iniotoriul mootinc or to po tpono the initiation of action until hortly after tho firct of tho your Reco runondo tion That you dotormino 1hother ' 1 tho procrwu 1 ccommon lod in Tab A hould now proeood in - 'o I o hich cu o your icn lturo on the letter to ecrctary Wil on i roquo tod or 2 tho procrrun reco i aendcJ in Tttb A bo po tponcd 1 1ntil afte r the fir t of tho year o 'l ' i i 'i Cloarnncos S JIB - I C- I '' '' EUR RA LUn cr 0 h 11 7 iG SECRET G- S P -- ---- -- ---- - ' o I -- -- - -dCopy Nr o _o -c DEPARTMENT OF STATE AsslSTANT SI CltET JIY SECRET l ffl CRANDU I October 16 1956 To Tho Socrote ry Throueh s s Fro i ElR - Ur Bclll I Subject Pro17nm to Incrcaso IA TO l uclear CapE biD ty o nd Socuro Certain Ba co Riehtco 7 C7 l'roblcnu --- Tho Dopartmont of Dofcn 1e has i 11formod 11 3 that it is mo it dooirablo thot tho United State3 now a sist certain allie i to achieve capability in tho uso of atom c 'to'oapons SACElR has moreover stated that tho United States security would be enhanced by suoh a pror ram in NATO and this would undoubtedly gi ve tho military program of tho allica a psycholoc1coJ li t at thi11 criticoJ t ima Thoro io also a nood for tho continui ne disperoal outsido tho Unitod States of the aiited Stateo stookpllo of atomic weapons both for security r easons and for aocooaiblli ty in ticle of eC1Crr oncy to tho forceG employing thom A apecifio applicotion of those pr obleti hos ari cn in Frlllice r here Defense he cl informed u i of a roquir omont for the introduction and atoraco of ato nic woapons TABB o Amba sador Dillon feels that such rights can be iooured but probably only if our request is accOl lpanicd by uomo offer of assistanco ho S lf o it s that i10 do this by respondine favorably to an earlier i nfoI'l l ll French r o 1ucst for training an air squ adron in tho use of atanic neapons D1sou ision1 I - General NATO A ipoct Plannin for tho use of atomic woapon in the event of all-out attack was authori1 ed by tho Horth Atlantic Council in Dooor ibcr 1954 and the trai ni ng of appropriate NA TO military forcos in addition to thoso of tho United Statc i ond tho United KiJledom to be in a position to implement t his policy if nocei cury lfould bo i si nificMt odditton to iATO' s deterront pOll'er os well ss its obility to moot nttaol Dcfan e hao expre r oci tho opinJ on fr0e1 a military point of vie11 that it 1 most doi i rable th at selooted major a 1 lios nO I' bo asoisted in tho achievement of opor tional delivery capabilities 'll'ith appropriate ' 'capons OJC tOl l I _ -- o-- O L S iiri O Authori o IfNJ 1t r z S -J - 1 I ncrnOOUCCO AT 1ue NA ttOtlAl AllCtftVC - - c- By@ J i VJ NARA o 1d fi r- ---- - -- ET - t 1 J eystomD compatible With Uaited States stockpile atomic reapona TAB A Goneral Norotad has oaid that United Statee security would be enhancod by such trainin proerMo in NATO A ldinc that tho placing or our allieo in a position to be able to deliver atanic weapono rould increase our flexibility In view o the f oregoi nt it io considered that the NATO military authorities should nO'lf undertake tho dovelopmont or a program and schodule o prioritieo for tho gradual achievement by the military forcoo of NATO of delivery oapabilitieo with appropriate atO J1io weapom1 sy tel l l The cooperation of the United States ie obviol 13ly ind l sponoablo to the acld evomont of theso cap4bil1tieo and an offer of United Stetos aosi tan ce in trs in1ng in acco dnnco with HATO military roqUiremonto would be a loi ical first step u c 48 gave to atomic wespono a major role in NATO planni nt but most of tho NATO nationo ns yet have ao prospect of 111ov1nt tOTrard a capability in the at oiru c fiold The IDLlintonnnco of tho det-errent throueJ the continued 1'1 llolo-henrted participation or all NATO mC111bero and thoir forces ca n be oxpoctod only if th oy can look for rard to boinE ablo to defend tbelD lelvco and carry out their full rolo in such plans i oreover they are partioulorly preocc tpied today n th problems of air defense and anxious to au Jll lnt preoent admittedly weak defenooo ll'ith atomic Rcapono This represents an additional reo son in tho political and psycholot 1 cal sphere - hy SCl lO forno rd step in tlu o field is callod for in t he interest of - iaintaining NATO aolido rity and unity or purpose Tho coming December l inioterial 1 ooting would present a most appropriate occanion far th' United States to make an offer of trainine A diopercal of tho United States s t ockpile of atomic r oaponn outside United States territory and t he stora o of such woapono neo r whoro thoy would bo noedod a re also militarily denirable This can bo accompliGhed her ever onlY to t he extent that f oreign countries ac uionce in the introduction and storage of suoh 1'1 eapono OUr NATO allies already tied together with us in a common strategy and defen e plans may bo 0 -po ted to accept Guch introduct ion and stora1 e much more rooc l y if t he woaponn involved include or es wldch would bo availoblo for t- -te uco or their forcoo in ti ma of emoreency as well os f or Uni tod Statec forcon A l'nited Staton tr ini ng offer lrill im odlotcly brin to ndnd the United Statos 0 new apons program and Secretary Wi loon 1 s staLemcnt of Docombor 1955 in thio r egard TAB B Our offer will be taken to have only a l1m 1 t ed sienilicanco if we cannot ot tho same time eive so1r e assurancei i 1bout the avnilability or the nor r capono whi ch include the insL umonts for delivery or atomi o warhcadc and for tho ll lO of which much of the trai ni ne r ould bt desii ncd Tho SECRET V' '' 'l l i v ir1 AuL'lori t II fl _ By -v VI NAAf ft r 2 -J ________ o 11 Ji _ I -3- 'I Tho training or NATO forceo iJ i tbe UDe or atan1c weapons will al so inevitably raioe questions about th e availability or such weapons in tho event of hostilities and wo must be prepared with an adequate reply 'Ibo MATO countries kncir that United Staten ln does not Permit tho present transfer of these weapons but they can be expected to seek eome commitmont from uo about providing weapono in caee of emorgoncy It is pormiesible under the present law for the United States to store atcmio weapons in NATO countries in United States cuotod y with such weapons remaining Unit ed States property The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is iJ iterpreted by the Departmont of Defense to perDtit the transfer of atan 1 c woapon i to Al lied military forces in tho event of emergency or attack and it will be necessary for t he United States to be prepared to give some assurl Jlces along these lines This 1r0uld be ll'ith reference only to atomic and not thermonuclear weapoIJD Gc rlllBJly raises a special prob em An offer or training in the u ie of atomic weapons to the other NA TO members must include au the momber i and yet French resistance to tho inclusion of Germany may be cll'ltioipated since traJ ning would undoubtedly be regarded as A first step toward possession According to interpretations which the Froncb have put fonrard it r as the intention or Protocols Ill and IV of tho London and Paris Pacts not only that Germany ehouJ d renounce tho right to manufacture atomic weapons but that Germany should not have the right to possess atomic weapons French modification of their WEU position wouJ d be required 1f we are to ovoid a serious political problem ll'ith the Germans Alternatively we will have a soriou i problem nth tne French if we go ahead ll'ithout havillg beon able to eectn e thei r agreement Furthcnnorc in view or Adenaueros recent statoccnts indicating a desire not to be identified with nuclear prcparationo this 11111ttcr m1L- t al io be iounded out with him in advance n - French Aspeot Tha Defense Department also refers in its letter TAB A to a specific present requirement to introdu e and store atomic weapons in France Ambassador Dillon strongly recommends that With thi spec1fio requirement in mind as well as tho broader NATO policy mentioned above o approach the French suggesting that in lino ll'ith the M C 48 concept we have two specific things to prop se to them 1 That tho United States be given autbori ation for t ho introduction and storaee r nuclear weapons in Franco and 2 That the United States t -ain one French F84F squadron in the use of tactical atomic reapons The Ambassador beU eves that tho Fren- h will lllllke any request for tho introduction and storage of weapons the subject or bareainitlf for something they want frun us The offer r ' th li'hich ho proposes to accomp SECRET his _ 1 - - his r equost is in itself a step - bich would be responsive to an inforDIIIJ French proposal of about a year ago and also bas both political o nd m1 litary advantages SACEUR and the Department of Defense have endorsed Amba sslldar Dillono proposal o nd have aJready studied tho lD8S lo of implomor ti ng it De enss has determiJled that the t r aining of the French squo dron would require tho conclUDion o a United St ntes- French bilateral ogreement under Section l44b of the AtO lic Energy A ct of 1954 and 11 proposed draft f or such an agre ment is attached to the letter at Tab A Defense bas carried on prel 1 mi nary consultation o with the A E C and is prepared to Warm the Joint Congressional Comdttee on Atomic Energy of our intentions The State-Defense ll ilita ry Inforination Control Coc ni tteo bas i ndioated the feasibillty of working out nth the French officio ls ooncornod the special security arrangea onts imich a bilateral agreement would require Froncn forces i n the u of United States itomio lToapons coupled with oventu al assurances about avoJ l ability in timo or noed might to 301110 degroo also improve tho cha noes of tho French Govornmontos aooopting sc no moratorium on weapons procl ction in connection llith EURATC or soma other scheme or koepinc to token proportions any French w apons production Training It is anticipated that when the offer to train NATO forces in tho use of atolllic weapoll I becorcee public knO lflodge it woultl probably give rise to some lively cr1tic1SCI ospeeially in Weotarn Europe as being contrary to the rele xntion of tensions and As tending to canmit NATO countries irrevocably to nuclear warfare This last point 1s at tho JD0112ont a particularly sonsitive ono in Gorm iny and our actions would havo to bo timed to tako this into acc ount On tho other hand it muot be argued that NATO forces should be equipped nth tho most modern woaponn t o carry out their mission to hold a11 far to tho East in Gorraany ao possible in caso of Soviat aggression this is without projudico tr tho need to be prcparsd for Dbrll lh fires as ' fOll JJoreovor t uvh training would build up greater oonfidonce in tho NATO countries in their ability to defend thamsclvoo an unquostionod need which cannot be ie norod witil there is conerote and subotantial progross tOlrllrd d 111arruamoot and would hoi i hton t ho sense of unity and oooporation in NATO Theoo effects would we believe moro t ho n compensato f er he unfavorable publicity Cencl uoion Tho t i mo h 'ls coruo Ylhon 1r0 s hould i ndicato t o NJ 'fO our re ildinoss to hel p nth the traininc of f orcea includine those of Germany in t ho employment of o tomic weapons and such o n o for could be moot effectively put f onrard at t ho Docembor Ministeri al moot Lng in Paris In thio connecti on tho United St too m l 9t bo pr epareu wi t h a reoponse to questions i f roised as to whether atotlc weapons thomsolYes would bo availabl in SECRET - - Dt ' ' i ' S i r o Aut 'lorit- UtVl --------pi ' - - o o _____ __ f i 1 1JJ-S ' i 11c ooucco r - o ciiavi By@# NW D _ o -- - - -- - --- L l IOP o oo _ jf ' ET -7 til IO of emergency to those oo es 'll'hose farces are trained in their use B7 infarming the Frenoh in advance of our propoGed announcemont at tho Deoembor Ministerial meeting and at tho samo tilno ma king to them the approach recommended by Ambassador Dillon we should facilitate tho satie aotion of our re u1rement for the introduction and storage o f atomic weapons in Franco Rooom nandatione f l l That agroemont to tho specific actions roc mrncnded bolow in preparation or the December l inioterial Moating bo roached with tho Depo rtment of Defenae and tho A tOlllic Energy Comnission and that tho PreDidontoo approval of this procram be iought follo r1 ng bis approval thoro should bo adoc iuato consultation nth the Joint Congress1onal Committee on Atomic Energy 2 That follcnring successful oorapletion of Step 1 but not earlier t han aoout mid-tlovember tho United States approach the Brltish Ganodia n and French Oovornmonts to consult 'lritb them ooncer u ng United states plans on this subject for tho Dooomber lilnistorial mooting Wo would tell them that at that meeting we intend to inform the Council we aro prepared to m i ko avaJ l ble to NATO oountrios training in the e111Ploymont of atomic weapon i subject to priorities as established by the NATO military authorities and in connection with delivery oystemD which the United States in accordance with NATO plans is 1ncludifl8 in 1IDA P programs or znak1ng available for purcha3o and subject to tho completion of bilateral agTeomont requirod by tho Atomic Enorgy Act It ohould bo understood that tho offer lti J l apply to Gormany in the samo mannor as to the other NATO allies o J That 1n our approaoh t o the French we also put to them the dual proposition suegested by Ambassador Dillon concerning 1ntroduotion and storage of atomic weapons and traini ne of one French squadron it clear that t ra1 n1ng would be oor ti Ilgent on conclusion of the neoeasary l44b bilateral agreemont and subjoct to NATO mili t ary prioritios as noted 1n 2 abc vo We would aJ so ask the French to treat our training offer as confidential until our genoroJ proposal had been made 1n the NAC m oting That immedintoly f olloffi nc these talks we also review our plans for tho Docernbor moetine '111th the Germans 5 Thnt f ollowing successful COl lpletion of tho first st op tho ExeoutiT0 Dranch prepare prociptly the r esponse 'll'hich the United States should be in a position to 1-ve 1n reply to the antici pated inquiries concerning tho availability of atomic woapons in t w o of omer goncy to Nii TO forces trainod in t heir u so 4 Clearancoo G'ry A ttachmonts IHl RA1 er1adm lO lh 56 SECR F l' o o11 lhis docu_m nt cousists oi 1 p ges 4l'io l f -fl - Cou1cs Sencs -Ll- r - o DEPARTMENT OF STATE W ASHINGTON Dear l lr Secretary We have tn ti cd tith con itlcrablc intnrcot J h GurdGn Gr iy 1 s l etter to the Deputy Under Secretary o f State i r Robort Murph of October 10 1956 and I havo ievcrru pro1 vsals to make to you in this re card 'le have n-J ted in p u t ic1 l your t'Ofercnce to tho de irauility f 1 1akine ome announcement to c ur NATO allie conccrnir c our poliCl' with rcs X ct to the trainin of iiATO nations in tho uso of atomic weapons and I should like to invite you to join me iu addrcssine a memo randum to the 1'1'e idont on thi subject A dra text for f'ttch a memorandu1 is encJJ sed for your consic eration As you wi ll r e ognize the course of action propo ied to tile President wotild implement the Joint Chiefs of Staff objective or assi iting selected major allies in the achievement of operational delivery capabilities with appropriate vreapons system compatible with United States stockpile atoll iC weapons 1hich wa the ubjcct of f r Gray1 s lett er This course of action also has the objective of meeting the requirement for the introduction and storage of atomic weapons in llctropoli tan F GBP'ance a subject which you ori c inally raisec in your letter to Secretary Dulle s of December 22 1955 and to v hich l r Gray als o r efers in his letter under reference If you aeree to cur addres ing a mcmor - ndu 11 to tho Pra ddent on this subject and after we have vrorked out a mututlll' acceptable text I would u ge t that we meet 1orith Ad1 ti ral Strauss to acquaint hi n with our intentions in this r iatter With the tho11 r ilt that it may be helpful in inforn ine you 1o rc f ully conccr ri ne cur t hinlcine on this uujcct I am also cnc lo ine a copy of a t aff memorandum prepared in the Depart1r ent of Sta l-c which 7 as approved by 3ccretary Dulles It would be our intent i on once Pre s identi al a pproval has been ecured to i mplement the reco1ru1 andat ions which are put fo rvi u-cl at t he encl cf this e norantlum with J vi ew to boi n rcpo rod to make t he appropriate ' ltement o t the f1- cembe r r inis t ri i l m e t ini of IATO If you concur I - 1l uld propose th nl our ta ff proceed to 1ork alone the se line in clos e coordin tion with each other Tho aonora' le Charles i'iilscn Secretary of Defense SECRET - 2 - Wl I arc studying tho technical annex and text of the proposed a l'eement with France w ich was transmitted as an at t 'lchment to J ir Gra yo s letter and the ippropriate officers in the Department wi ll be shortly discussine this l'll th their counterparts in Dofense so that an aareed draft can be available for presentation to the French at th-2 appropriate time I understand t hat this technical annex has al o been forVlardcd to the Atomic Enere y Commission for its a rnment Sincerely yours Actine Secretary Enclosure Draft text of 1 lemorandum to the President -- uEr'ttOOVC O AT Ute u- nONAJ AAC 5 -_ _ ' - ' DEPARTMENT OF STAT E WASHINGTON MEllORA IDUM Fffi THE PRESIDENT Subject rrogra c to Increase NATO Nuclear Capability and Seoure Certain Base Rights L accordance with the general polioy stated in paragraph 17 of MSC 5602 1 and in keeping with the J c s view that from a military point of view it is most desirable that selected major alJ ies no bo assisted in tho achievement of operational delivery capabilities with appropriate r eapons s rstems compatj_ble with United States stockpile atomic r1eapons it is proposed that the United States announce at tho DecoCtber J linisterial Maotin of liATO that the lk ited States is propai od to make available to NATO coUI1tries training in the o nploymont of atoraic weapon for HAT01 s dofenso It -s anticipated that such an offer v -ould a eivo renewed impetus to NA T0 1 s military piooeram at a t ime when this is badly needed b increase tho flaxibilit r of NAT0 1 s defenses in that tho co J abilit r of delivering atomic weapons in case of need which i s at SACEUR 1 s disposition would be greatly expanded and c a 3sist in achievine a desirable dispersal of United State3 atomic weapons This action can be taken under the present Atomic Energy Act In our announcement to tho Norl h fl tlantio Cow-ic il we would make clear that training would be a subject to prior ties a3 established by the NJ 'i 'O military aul hori l ies b related to delivery y l e ru which the United State is inclv dine in J IDAP programs or malc iJ-ig availnblo for purcha5e and c subject to tho completion of bilateral agreements roquirod by tho Atomic Energy Act r r you approve this action v10 will undertake t he follovr i rl steps in preparation for the December ineel ine A Consult m th the Joint Conere lsional Cormttee on Ltomic Er err y so i hat they arc adequately infor Ded conco rnine the propo ed pro 6ram B - - -- - - - - - --------1 o f o t B Following atop A roview with the British Canadians and Floench our plans to make the training of fer at the December Uin1sterial Mooting rnalci ng it clear that tho offer to NA TO of training will apply to Germany in the so me marmc r as to our other NATO allies Yfe vrould a iso teU the French in accordance with a proposal advanced b wassador Dillon and supported by SACElR that l ue are preparod to train a Fronoh F84F squndron in tho use of tactical atoi u c weapons as a first stop in this pro ra rn contineent on tho oonclusion with France of the necessary bilateral agreement and subject to NATO military priorities ' l ld 2 we aro soolci ng French Gtroemont to the introduction and stora e in United states custody of atomic weapons in Fl ance c Upon tho successful COll' pletion of the talks Tri th the British Ganadians and French we would reviaw our plans for the December Llinisterial l IOoti ng nth tho Gerwa113 and assuming no problems ariso in this discussion would then complete our plans to make the offer at the Ministerial Mooting It is anticipated that onco the offer of training is made there 1dll bo inquiries concernine the availability of tho atomic TJeapons themsolvos in co se of need If such a question should ari ie we would proposo to roply along these lines It ce 'l bo stated that Yleapons 11ould be made available t o forces trained in their uso i f and nhen this becomes nocos iary in view of an emergency facing NATO Tho conditions under T1hich this would take place and the procedure3 to be follovred are matters wh5 ch still require further study by tho United States This reply would be basod on the constitutional authority of the President as ColDll1Allder- in-Chief This matter has been broueht to the attention of the Atomic Energy Col1lillission and Admiral Strauss concurs in tho above actions Your approval of the foregoing i s requested Herbert Hoover Jr Acting Seorotary of State Charlos E Wilson Socrotary of Dofenso SF C IB'r This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu