U.K., Bonn Agree On N.A.T.O. Plan

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 13

U.K., Bonn Agree On N.A.T.O. Plan

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, March 18. Britain and West Germany today announced backing for both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation multi-nation and multilateral nuclear deterrent forces projects.

A joint statement issued after day-long talks in London between the British and West German Defence Ministers. Mr Peter Thorneycroft and Mr Von Hassel, stressed that the multi-nation force concept could be implemented "as soon as the N A.T.O command structure for the military control of such a force could be created." The 'statement said: “On the question of multi-national and multi-lateral (mixedmanned* deterrent forces, the two Ministers agreed to support both propects. which they considered to be merely two elements of the same basic idea " Discussions on the details of the multi-lateral force which would take rather longer to implement, should be continued meantime The original idea for the N.A.T.v. multi-nation and

multi-latera' nuclear forces was contained tn the communique issued by President Kennedy and the British Prime Minister <Mr Macmillan*. after their Bahamas summit meeting last December

Today's communique also said that rhe two Ministers found themselves in complete agreement’’ on their attitudes to the concept of the forward deployment of N.a.T.O forces in Europe In Washington, British and United States experts have concluded what officials described as “very satisfactory" talks on British acquisition of Polaris missiles under the terms of the Nassau Agreement

It has now been decided that Britain will herself build a fleet of four submarines The United States will supply the Polaris missiles, without warheads, which will be British Once the teams of experts have consulted their Governments on the various concrete arrangements they have drawn up there is likely to be another meeting for final fore, is not expected to come approval of the agreement The British submarine into being until the late 1960's at the earliest.