HC Deb 28 November 1963 vol 685 c471 During his visit to the U.N. General Assembly in New York the Foreign Secretary has explained to the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Rusk, the British attitude to the talks which are shortly to open between a number of Governments on the U.S. proposal for a mixed-manned nuclear force of surface ships. The U.K. Government are now informing the other governments concerned of their attitude to the proposed talks in the following terms: At their meeting in Nassau last December, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom agreed to use their best endeavours to develop a N.A.T.O. multilateral nuclear force, to which both the United States and the United Kingdom Governments would contribute national forces. The United Kingdom Government have assigned the V-bomber force to N.A.T.O, and are pledged to make their Polaris submarines, when completed, available for inclusion in a N.A.T.O. nuclear force for the purposes of international defence of the western alliance in all circumstances, except where they may decide that supreme national interests are at stake. In so doing they have fulfilled the specific obligation which they assumed at Nassau. On the same occasion the President explained to the Prime Minister that he also intended to pursue the formation of a mixed-manned nuclear force to be assigned to N.A.T.O. and to which non-nuclear Powers could contribute. The United Kingdom Government have, from the outset, recognised the importance of this further proposal. They have agreed that the conception is one which deserves examination, together with other possible means of developing the concept of a N.A.T.O. multilateral nuclear force; but they have never given any undertaking to participate in the mixed-manned component although they have agreed to consider providing it, if it is formed, with operational facilities. It was in this spirit that, at their meeting at Birch Grove in July, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom agreed that various possible W£.ys of promoting a closer association of the members of the N.A.T.O. alliance with its nuclear deterrent should be further discussed with their allies, on the basis that such discussions should include proposals for a mixed-manned force without prejudice to the question of United Kingdom participation in it. The terms of reference for the discussions now proposed, although specifically reserving national decisions on participation in the mixed-manned force to individual governments, state that those taking part will be prepared 'to enter into detailed discussions with that end in view'. In the light of the attitude which they have consistently adopted towards this project, as indicated above, the United Kingdom Government do not feel that they could in good faith enter these discussions on terms of reference which imply this degree of commitment in principle to participation in a mixed-manned force of surface ships, especially since the value of a force of this kind in relation to the expenditure of resources which it would entail has been publicly questioned and this issue is now under examination in the context of the N.A.T.O. strategic review. Therefore, if they are to take part in the discussions it must be on the clear understanding that it does not commit them to participate in such a force. Subject to this reservation, the United Kingdom Government are prepared to join in an objective examination of the project in all its aspects and possible variations.

10 Downing Street,

S.W.I.

1st October, 1963.