REPAOOUCED ATlHE NATlOHAI ARCIIVES SECRET TO EUR - FROM RA - Alan G SUBJECT Atomic Stockpile Negotiation5 with Italy Mr Selby Jame'IV Mr Fe5eenden has requested that Mr Tyler's attention It gives a picture of a NATO atomic stockpile agreement with Italy In recent messages Ambassador Reinhardt has reported strong interest of the GOI in accompanying the stockpile agreement with an Italian-u s understanding that atomic weapons stored in Ital y would be used only with the prior consent of the GOI The Ambassador has strongly urged that we meet the GOI desires and the Secretary so recommended in a latter to Secretary McNamara Secretary McNamara responded that Defense would prefer to avoid such a bilateral understanding with the GOI and recommended that we seek to defer this matter with the GOI pending further discussions in the North Atlantic Council of procedures for deciding to use nuclear weapons This message combines Defense and State views into a presentation by Ambassador Reinhardt to the Italian Foreign Minister If the Foreign Minister continues to desire a 11 conaent11 agreement the Ambassador is authorized to offer specific language for such an understanding Attachment ml Department telegram to Rome 1315 dtd November 3 1961 l 7- C - ' cc ·RA - Mr Fessenden - _ t • y l • l I ij j EUR RA RJAlbriiht jn · A SECRET REPROOUCl O AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 1961 NOV INDICATE 0 cower 0 CHAlGI TO 0 ACTION Amembassy ROME 5 VERBATIM TEXT INFO - Pi 1 9 18 § Classification Wo iI USCINCEUR Amembassy PARIS - 9 I 8 l 57 I 7 PARiS-·- FOR USRO STOESiSEL AND M µE · ROME ALSO FOR ROOD • STATE-DEFmSE MESSAGE Embtel 1472 rptd info Paris 165 Deptel 1135 rptd info Paris 2259 Re ent Embassy messag s and discussigns he e with Andr eo ti in icate Ital ian and US authorities have reached common agree me -t on des 4-ability t at• l• -••ment wit - ' concluding rapidly J ' ✓ J 1 ' - • meet it es - ' we - 1 '# t 1 the bassador has explored personai i y with Foreigrl Mini i ter ·cert - ra m t_ US QUOTE c6hsen t' 't'o ' fee UNQUOTE formula if they continue to 4So-·desirei after • ' ryai e t l f J• J t J J r • • At earliest opportubity t Ambassador should discuss stockpile negotiations with Foreign Minister 1 • - r __ 1 r- • C- t i · -along following l ines • 'r ' VI' ·· _ 1 t I '4 • --' t I _ - • 11 o ' • •• - _ • z a dor-aii 'ght op n tli gene°r'a i expresai6n 'us a _ f 1 j • • • _ desire •··• ' I • • to do • all fp powe r to take me u e _nec 1 1sary to develop force posture required · within NATO to meet tense international situation of which Berlin is the most _in j t ' ' h In int r• t of speeding agreement and maintaining GOI trust and cooperation on NATO _ _ f or l 1 T•loo•ophlc 11101 olu lo ucl · - CINI nc ·-J --r c I __ Pender WE - Mr Brown draft S AE - Mr 4 'l lS OSD ISA - Mr Nitze draft os 322 a - PRODUCTION FROM -s COPY IS PROHIBITED UNLESS UNCLASSIFIED -a J c d n --· - - - ------ - REPROOUCEb AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DECl SSIFIED Authority of JlJ ' tci_ 1rJq · 1 1 te•Jti _·__________________ T '- ' I • £ l t2P 'D- Classl lcalfon ' ' L 7 most acute manifestation of aggressive Bloc policies In this connection US has undertaken major steps to increase readiness of its forces We commend the GOI on its progress to date in meeting increased defense needs of the Alliance Rapid conclusion of stockpile agreement currently under negotiation between our two governments would be constructive step of mutual benefit to forces of both countries and to NATO as a whole Key remaining question relating to stockpile negotiations so far as GOI is concerned appears to be GOI proposal for consent agreemento Our review of GOI proposals has required careful consideration of number of factors affecting conclusion such a US-GOI agreement at this time After ltaliu O t pr•p•aet c•••e•t f•rmula NA TO M1lita17 Cemmitte• seat 1•• MOD 1 a pr•p•aed r•p•rt t• N•rtkAtlaatio C•Ullcil MO 95 a alTZi at militaI7 ceaaiiel'-o ati••• re use auclear weaP•••• MC 95 1ta t$• militar r Tiew et aeed uuer preaoat NA TO etrateg fer cema aier• be able reape•• with auclear wa•J e•• t• certa 11 type• •f attack witbia twe t• fifteea mi•utes if Eurepe te be d •fHd d effectiTel7 T i• repert whick •••rtly will be subJDittei te NAO a lH ra isea queatiene litical ceasulta tiea We de ut k a•w wbt prepe1al1 might eT•ln frem NAC d iacuuiea t b eH questi•••• ·We are ceacened geaerall 7 tla at T rieu• req'lliremeata fer ceaaultatiea re empleymeat nclear weap••• a ferce • d e ut rpt aet pyramid te peiat ef ielqi- aeoeHar a ad desired mili ta cy reap•llH • The ref ere u til NA C ha a bad CAallee te giTe full ce•aidaratie• te pelitical a d military facten iaTelTei tJS weu ld prefer delq werki ag •ut apecifio c•••••t a rr J1gemeat1 wita GOI lf L _J I j C lassificalfon l' ' ________ ___ ___ ------------------ ------- ___ _ _ _ __ REPROOUCcb AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES · -01 c1 -AsSIFIED Aufhurity ll1rJ 3 _ _M J l Date tJ of tdegram to Amembassy OME SECRET Closslficalion 7 If Ambassador believes it would be helpful he should also point out that under existing arrangements governing US forces stationed in Italy under which nuclear weapons were deployed to Italy some years ago with knowledge and consent of Italian Government these forces can be used only in furtherance of NATO plans and objectives He should point out further that us fully aware importance of con- sulting with its allies before nuclear weapons are used and US has made clear over years in NAC that it would do so circumstances permitting before nuclear weapons are used anywhere in world If after above presentation Foreign Minister still wishes separate understate PS prepa red to meet e·l Ms ied Specifically US would confirm in iGIIIMil exchange of standing on use nuclear weapons in Italy Ambassador may - GOI vishes in this regard notes with GOI our intent to consult with GOI concerning use of any nuclear weapons stored in Italy pursuant to this stockpile agreement Ambassador mq in his dis- cretion read folloving official US text of proposed operative language for such notes and or leave text with Foreign Minister QTE In connection with the agreement concluded between our two governments today covering the stockpiling of United States atomic weapons in Italy or P ble use by NATO atomic capable forces under the direction of SACEUR it is l 1iai decision to @tpplo r _ 1 dla¥ rstood thatjthese weapons wilr be YJa va by the Supreme Allied Commander iurope only in consult t n agreemen with the Governments of Italy and the i 11 nited Stated of America i ' The consultation by the two governments will take place agreement of the two governments would be given in the light of circumstances at L the time SECRET Cla ssificalion _J REPROOUC D AT THE NATIOHAI ARCHM S _ i -_of telegram to bassy ROMB 1 • - ·1_ - - ·'I $ ClassSfscalion r- the time and having regard to the undertaking they have assumed in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty 7 Since NATO procedures for the command and control of nuclear weapons which might be established at some futuee date could affect the procedures agreed in this note it is understood that on request of either of our two governments the procedures herein will be reviewed to take account of 8 1J 1 such future NATO proaadures UNQTE FYI We leave to Ambassador's discretion whether formula should provide for QTE consultation UNQTE or QTE agreement UNQTE Overall effect of note is same as if para 4 of agreement stated that when weapons are released by appropriate authority decision to employ weapons in accordance with procedures established by SACEUR will be taken by SACEUR only in••• etc J END FYI pei•t eut Ambassador should plk a ttJat this language parallels language in para 8 of memorandum contained in IRBM agreement with exception of review proviso in last sentence New provision appears desirable since it appears NAC will be giving increased attention to this problem Ambassador should make clear that our proposed language would be contained in classified notes which would be separate from and not referred to in stockpile agreement We believe it important for political and military operational reasons that text of stockpile agreement with Italy beessen tially same as similar agreements already concluded with other NATO countries Regardless of outcome discussion on consent question Ambassador should state that US assumes recent technical briefings for GOI officials on cost questions L - and discussions with Andreotti in Washington have resolved remaining outstanding _J issues SECRET Classification REPROOUCEfl ATlHE NliTlONAI ARCHIVES of telmmm to ' memhpa BC • d • iZ '•- 1· - ' k Jr 1 c · 4 u • ' P f ' - ' - UC C ca 1lo n I issues on costs and on passing information re numbers of weapons to GOI authorities- -1 We gather that it now possible for GOI to accept in stockpile agreement itself I f language already proposed by US on these questions Embassy is prepared to meet with GOI officials as soon as possible to reach final agreement on text of stockpile agreement The Ambassador might request confirmation that arrangements to deal with numbers of weapons problem would be worked out at the military level including text of technical agreements to ·cover arrangements If Foreign Minister requests that there be document at diplomatic level which would recognize that numbers problem is being handled through military channels Ambassador should propose general language separate from stockpile agreement along following lines QTE The procedures whereby authorities of the Government of Italy will be kept informed as to numbers of weapons scheduled for location in Italy in furtherance of NATO plans will be arranged with the Italian military authorities UNQTE We are sending by airgram article-by-article analysis of where our records show we stand with GOI on actual text of agreement However Ambassador's pre- sentation to Foreign Minister should not rpt not be delayed pending receipt this analysis fl Acting L BOWLES - _J SECRET NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE 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 Read related article The U S Nuclear Presence in Western Europe 1954-1962 Part II 2020-09-17