BERLIN ACCESS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 17

BERLIN ACCESS

U.S. Nuclear Threat (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Oct. 17. The United States would use nueleer weapons if necessary to protect the West's rights of access to Berlin, the Presidential Adviser on National Security Affairs (Mr McGeorge Bundy) said last night. Mr Bundy was asked in an interview shown on West German television to enlarge on a recent statement by the Secretary of Defence (Mr McNamara) about the defence of Allied rights in the divided city. “Secretary of Defence McNamara was simply stating again a point on which all Americans are determined.” Mr Bundy said. “We will not be driven out of Berlin and we will use whatever force is necessary —up to and including nuclear weapons if necessary—to make good this determination.

“We do not expect that the Soviet Union will understand pur determination, but at times when certain Soviet leaders talk as if they doubted our resolution, it is important to restate our position so that there-can be no excuse for any tragic mistake.”

Mr Bundy, who recently visited several West European capitals, said there was a sense of growing economic and social strength in the area “and I may remark parenthetically that we in the United States would welcome with enthusiasm a corresponding increase in effective military strength as well.”