U.K. V-BOMBER FORCE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 15

U.K. V-BOMBER FORCE

Arming With U.S. H-Bombs

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 6. Britain’s V-bomber force is armed largely with American Hbombs. If it became necessary lo launch a major nuclear attack, the V-bombers could not be sent without the full consent of the United States Government. These were the terms of a secret deal between the two countries disclosed yesterday, according to the “Daily Mail.’’ The newspaper said it was understood *that the H-bombs, allocated by the Strategic Air Command to the R.A.F., were in dumps in Britain under American guard. They would not be handed over unless a code word was flashed from the White House, the “Daily Mail’’ said.

The British Minister of Defence (Mr Duncan Sandys) made the arrangement when he worked out the defence arrangement for nuclear weapons with his American opposite number. Mr Neil McElroy. It was a stop-gap arrangement until Britain had enough nuclear weapons of her own to arm the more than 100 V-bombers in squadron service.

Confirmation By Ministry

LONDON, May 6. The Ministry of Defence confirmed today newspaper reports that H-bombs had been lent to Britain by the United States, but were still under American guard at dumps in Britain. The American H-bombs would in due course be replaced by British H-bombs, but at present the number manufactured in Britain was not enough to meet the entire needs of the V-bombers, it was said.

Pope’s Appeal To Journalists

ROME, May 5. Pope John told journalists today that truth was “often violated and betrayed by information media’’ and urged them to spread the truth with loving charity. The Pope said some newspapers laid a “dangerous trap” by presenting an “alluring mixture of serious and profane things, sometimes also of indecent things, under the pretext of - implete information or of publicity.” Another section of the press committed “grave sins against truth and loving charity by lying to inspire hatred.” The aim of these newspapers seemed to be to attack the Church “under the lying aspect of hastening the solution of problems besetting workers, the weak, and defenceless people.”