REe J iG CED AT ti-IE A't' IONAl ARtHIVES I• 1 tl _ - · ' DECLASSIFIED AuLia Jtjh 9 0 q ' _ I --- -n o - n- - 1s ' REV • a --r _ ey J J - L6 'l FILES NAP A D2te 1 I i To Te Deputy Secce r a J ¥ ----J - Ambassador Johnson t ' · ' t bi f B - ------1 _ _ O __ _ From PM Refs NSDM 185 Kissinger Memorandum to Deputy Secretary of Def nse Rush dated July 31 S S 7212730 Ronald I Spiers ------ US UK Nuclear Cooperation POLARIS Modernization Program Super Antelope Early in the summer the President approved the additional Project Definition assistance the British Government had requested the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission to provide including British participation in underground effects tests and the testing at the Nevada Test Site of three or four British designed and fabricated nuclear devices HMG and the JCAE staff were told informally that the USG had made an affirmative decision on the additional assistance t y ' '1 With the firming up of some of the schedule planning and the completion of the required legal determinations and other documentation AEC has now moved to inform HMG and the Joint Committee formally of the President's decision AEC Commissioner Larson notified Dr Herman Bondi Chief Scientific ' Adviser of the British Ministry of Defence by letter on October 18 that the USG had agreed to test three British Jilt nuclear devices and outlined certain conditions and procedures for the projected underground experiments AEC Chairman f Schlesinger in accordance with NSDM 185 has now formally a notified JCAE Chairman Pastore of the White House decision to - '- provide further assistance to the British POLARIS modernization program Schlesinger took care to stress that each UK h test would be thoroughly examined by the Executive Branch to l insure both that US safety standards will be met and that our commitments under the Limited Test Ban Treaty will be carried out ii ' w ' '1 t 'i a TOP SEC T NODIS CLAS SITIED BY EYPI l 'T'li Col A B Wi tko PM AE Acting - - - 1 tr · ·· ' _· · · · •· · · · · · ·· • ·· · •· •• ··• ••·• •••'• • ' u' u'u'u 1u iil Fl • • ·-- - _- _1_ t-ECU SS JFlCATION ' ' _r S _ - tJJ UJ C _ · _ · 3 c · l R 1 652 ID t I ' TV''· ' C 1 ··•· • · 3 · Au·ro1 'LA ·1cAii 1 i i c · · · -- ··- -·•·········· un'kri'awri ' '· _ _ u ON ••• PM AE 73 301 MICROFIILMEO BY_S S-1 r ' DECLASSIFIED AuL ori 9 9 Ot 7 - By - ' - J NAP A 021 6 9 I I TOP SECRET NODIS 2 ' I ✓ Copies of both letters are attached Both emphasize the precautions that will be taken to minimize the visibility of UK personnel present in the US for the projected Nevada tests Attachments A AEC letter to Prof Bondi dated Oct 18 B AEC letter to JCAE Chairman Pastore dated Nov 3 C NSDM 185 D Kissinger Memorandum to Deputy Secretary of Defense Rush 1 · t• J TOP SECRET NODIS Drafted 11 13 72 Clearance ·· • i i ·- _ • • - · · - - -L • PM AE Col ABWitko bpw x21835 EUR NE - Mr rns draft -r I DECLASSIFIED AuL'lori __ - a S 7 _ ti' J NAP A D2t 6 9 I'• TOP SEGRET SENSITIVE' -- UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON O C 20545 ' OCT 181972 1'hll document consists of pages' No 4 ot-2_Copies Series4 CLASSIFIED BY Ralph G Shull Chief Liaison Branch DMA · ' r ·_n•c ' n C - S i l s •• ' Y Cc ''°'' ' 12 f Professor Herman Bondi Chief Scientific Adviser Ministry of Defence Main Building Whitehall London S W l A 2HB England i c _-- £- -J- -- - - i C · - oacuMENr -10 LXI Dear Professor Bondi It is a pleasure to reply to your letter of June 8 1972 concerning possible underground tests of a new United Kingdom POLARIS warhead The Commission bas reviewed this request with other interested U S Government agencies I am happy to inform you that our government has approved in principle the testing of up •to three U K -furnished nuclear devices for the U K Super Antelope missile improvement program at the Nevada Test Site NTS This assumes that your government will make a decision early in Calendar Year 1973 to continue the program looking toward hardening the U K OLAR IS warhead and system The Atomic Energy Commission will arrange for the testing of the U K devices · Our general understandings concerning this cooperation include the following most of which were given in your letter of June 8 The U K will pay the U S the full costs for the tests and related services as provided in the 1958 Agreement The conduct of any test will be contingent on the U S satisfying itself on safety and test ban treaty aspects To that end the U S will make an independent assessment of the safety of the devices and the test conditions just as it does for any proposed U S test Regarding public relations it is expected that the tests will be arranged and conducted without publicity but the U K should be prepared to acknowledge that U K nuclear devices were tested underground at NTS if circumstances make such an admission necessary and desirable NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION fX'iMPf FROM GE -lERAt DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULt 011 EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652 EXEMPTION CATEGORY S B V AUIOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON 1 _ J - _ • aUectln dct• 0% eT D t 0J1y Unauthorized Dlsclc1ure SubJeot le Criminal Sanctl 101 SENSITIVE · DECLASSIFIED I - I TOP SECRET Professor Herman Bondi Aut cri 9 9 oS 7 1 t i 8'J - J NARA Date I fl 7 2 I However it is our desire to minimize the public visibility of this project For your information it is our practice to make a public announcement after a test if the yield was over 10 KT or if radioactivity is present outside the test site As part of the preparations for the tests a mutually agreed public information plan will have to be developed We wish to point out that Ne may on a case-by-case basis review any particularly sensitive aspect of this cooperat on that might become publicized or which may have broader international implications Furthermore please recognize that our willingness to cooperate in this phase of the Super Antelope project does not imply· any assurances regarding the successful outcome of the project nor subsequent U S cooperation in the Super Antelope missile improvement program We have designated the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory LLL to be responsible for the tests The LLL in cooperation with the U K representatives will arrange to make the measurements and attempt to gather the data that is desired The U K tests will as mentioned earlier be subject to the same safety and containment review to which we subject our own Actual authorization to fire a test is given only a few days prior to the event after a review of all factors including international political developments which might influence the timing In addition a test may be delayed waiting for suitable weather conditions 4 I wish you-success in your program and tn the conduct of the tests The necessary implementing ·arrangements for your tests· can be developed through the Division of Military Application Sincerely AJ c i _ P r '-- ' ' - • r-' ' u c E Larson Commissioner bee L Spiers Director of Politico-Military Affairs Department of State Mr Ronald LXI-8198-4A TOP SECRET I r ·• 1ur tuHtl I SENSITIVE DECLASSIFIED AuL 0J i_Jb oc 7 _ 8'J D2tcJ 6 9 UNITED STATES J NAP A ----- This do r m nt cor i s or i agt s · ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ·- NOY I Ji No of 3 · Copies Series ffl lJ G WASHINGTON D C 20545 3 1972 - · - - - · t I CLASSIFIED BY Ralph G Shull Chief Liaison Branch DMA Honorable John O Pastore Chairman Joint Committee on Atomic Energy Congress of the United States Dear Senator Pastore This advises the Joint Conmittee on Atomic Energy further on the subject of Major General Edward B Giller's letter of March 14 1972 concerning the British -interest in par icipating in two types of underground tests -- effects tests and design proof tests -- both of which are related to hardening the United Kingdom POLARIS warhead As you may recall this interest was expressed during the U S U K Stocktake meeting of February this year As a follow-up action the U K has formally requested that we conduct possibly two or three testa of U K nuclear devices at the Nevada Test Site The yields would be in the region of·a few tens of kilotons The President has given his approval in principle of the U K request for U S assistance in conducting underground nuclear tests of a U K warhead design for the U K 1°Super Antelope missile improvement program As was the case with previous -underground tests of U K devices conducted by the U S arrangements for providing this cooperation will include provisions for the U K to pay the U S the full costs of the tests and related services as providea in the 1958 reement Also the arrangements will include provisions for the U S to satisfy itself on the safety and test ban treaty aspects of each test just as it does for any proposed U S test While the presence of the necessary U K personnel to participate in the tests bas been approved appropriate precautions will be taken to minimize the likelihood of public notice of their participation and our cooperation in this project The tests will be arranged and conducted without publicity EXnIPT FROM GTh'E _ff_L o cr ztf SrrtCATION SCHEDUU CJ EXEctmYr OP CS 11£52 E 1 ' iQN CATEGORY sre AUTOMA7I ULY DECw'tSSiraD ON µ-- --- '--'- -•·•- NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorl zed Dllclosure Subjecl Ill Criminal Sanctlon eliec tlve dc te or n n if SENSITIVE '• TOP SECRET j any DECLASSIFIED ' · ' AuL c_5lt_ f - 9- 0 t ti' · Honorable John O Pastore J NAP A D2te 1 Y - 2 - The U K is being informed of the President's decision and that the U S may on a case-by-case basis review any particularly sensitive aspect of this cooperation that might become publicized or which may have broader international implications Furthermore the U K is being informed that our willingness to cooperate in this phase of the Super Antelope project does not imply any assurances regarding the successful outcome of the project nor subsequent U S cooperation in the Super Antelope missile improvement program The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has been named as the responsible laboratory for the tests We will continue to keep the Joint Committee informed of developments in this area Sincerely Signed James R Schiesinge Chairman bee Honorable Carl Walske Assistant to the Secretary of Defense • Atomic Energy Department of Defense dy 2A --- - Mr Ronald I Spiers Director of Politico-Military Affairs Department of State Washington D C 20520 Cy 3A SENSITIVE TOP SECRET - I -- I DECLASSIFIED _ AuL J l or 7 --·· - · · - --- 8y J NAP A D2tel 9 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON O C 20506 August 15 1972 to TOP SECRET SENSITIVE Action National Security Decision 1v1cmorandum 185 T S PC S S S S-S EUR ACDA TO The Secretary of State The Secretary of Defense The Chairman Atomic Energy Commission SUBJECT Assistance to the UK Missile Program The President has approved in principle U S assistance in conducting a series of up to three underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site of a U K warhead design for the U K Super Antelope missile improvement program Arrangements for providing this cooperation will include provisions that - - U K provides the nuclear devices and their safe transport • - - U K pays the U S the full costs of the tests and related services as provided in the 1958 Agreement -- U s· · makes an independent asseisment of the safety of the nuclear devices and the test conditions and will insure that the underground tests meet U S standards with respect to safety and the Limited Test Ban Treaty - - U S provides the test facilities and conducts the tests --- U S provides the U K the information and sample materials obtained from the tests -- Tests be arranged a d conducted w_ithout publicity - - The U K will be prepared to acknowledge that U K nuclear devices were tested if circum stances make such an adinission necessary o r desirable The presence of the necessary U K personnel to _participate in the tests is approved however appropriate precautions will be taken to minimize t hc public visibility of their participation and our cooperation in this highly sensitive project TOP SECRET SENSITIVE • J r - -_ - ____ - -- _ --- _-·_-_ _-··_ -- ----- DECLASSIFIED AuL c_§ft_J oq ' __ 8'f - t r J NAP A _ Dztel _ 'I ·- _- _ - _-· --- TOP SECRET SENSITIVE 2 The U K should be informed through appropriate channels of our decision and tbe considerations above concerning our cooperation Moreover the U K hould understand that we reserve the right to review on a case by case basis any particularly sensitive aspects of this cooperation that might become publicized or which may have broader international implications Furthe more our willingness to cooperate in this phase of the Super Antelope project does not imply any assurances regarding the successful outcome of the project nor subsequent U S cooperation in the Super Antelope missile improvement program The NSC Senior Review Group will continue to exercise its responsibilities for coordinating our assistance to the U K on the Super Antelope project as provided in NSDM 124 All agencies involved in our support of the Super Antelope project will provide periodic status reports to the President as appropriate and no less than annually Decisions on particularly sensitive aspects of this cooperation that might become publicized or have serious international ir nplications will be referred to the President by the SRG The Atomic Energy Commission in coordination with th Departments of State' and Defense will inform the Joint Co1nmittee on Atomic Energy of our proposed cooperation with the U K on this project I 7# e r__ _ __ Henry A Kissinger cc The Director of Central Intelligence The Director Arms Control and Disarma1nent Agency ' TOP SECRET SENSITIVE 7