U.S. May Offer Nuclear Assistance To France

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 11

U.S. May Offer Nuclear Assistance To France

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

President Kennedy hinted strongly last night that he was prepared to offer nuclear help to France if she would co-operate in Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear defence.

WASHINGTON, August 2.

He told his press conference that the United States and Britain had been in touch with France on how “co-operation could be more satisfactorily developed if there were a test ban,” but had received no response other than President de Gaulle’s remarks at his press conference on Monday.

President Kennedy also said categorically that he recognised France as a nuclear power under the terms of the United States Atomic Energy Act, which permits the exchange of information to an ally with nuclear capability. Hitherto, Britain has been the only country to receive secret information under the Atomic Energy Act. The President recalled that be had offered Polaris missiles to France after his Nassau conference with Mr Macmillan last December.

“That offer was rejected.” he said. “. . . because while the British were prepared and have placed their Vbomber force under N.A.T.O and Polaris under N.A.T.O . . I think that the French regarded that condition as unsatisfactory. or that proposal as unsatisfactory. I think that is a more precise word —proposal, not condition. De Gaulle’s View

“Now. we have the question of where we should go from here. As the General (President de Gaulle) made clear in his press conference, he has a somewhat different view of N.A.T.O. and its importance and he has suggested on several occasions that it should be reorganised. “He also has some objection to the word integration, which we think is a good word. But he does not.” The problem did not rest solely with an interpretation of the Atomic Energy Act. the President observed, but went to the organisation of the defence of the West, and what kind of co-operative effort France, the United States Britain and all other N.A.T.O members could join in “Now that is a very comolicated political problem, and "his is a matter which we opened up for discussion some months ago. and which I would assume that we should continue to discuss." he said. “And, of course, we

are always prepared to and have indicated as much to the French.”

President Kennedy ruled out an early East-West summit conference, saying he did not think it would serve a useful purpose at present. President Kennedy said the United States would continue underground nuclear tests. Mr Kennedy said that, as

he understood it, President de Gaulle had made a nonaggression pledge himself. Mr Kennedy said it would seem advisable for other N.A.T.O. powers to discuss a non-aggression agreement That would mean a greater guarantee of safety for West Berlin.

After such talks, he said, the Western Powers should "go back to the Soviet Union and see what the • situation looks like. That's the pro-

cedure w<>’-" going to folow.” he said. Mr Rus,., ae United States Secretary of State, will have a personal meeting with Mr Khrushchev in Moscow next week, authoritative sources said in Washington yesterday. Mr Rusk will be in Moscow to sign the test-ban treaty on Monday and will stay on for ‘ihree or four days after the ceremony at the invitation of the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Gromyko), the State Department announced. The signing ceremony will take place in St. Catharine’s Hall, of the Kremlin at 1.30 p.m.. G.M.T.. on August 5. Mr Khrushchev was regirted to have changed his holiday plans to be present at the signing of the treaty and to take personal command of high-level talks with Britain and the United States, according to the British United Press. Mr Khrushchev was to have left for his Black Sea retreat today to relax for at least a fortnight before his journey to Jugoslavia on August 20. the report said. Diplomatic officials said Mr Khrushchev's decision to put off a much-needed . holiday for at least a week demonstrated the significance he attached to the forthcoming talks.

Mr Khrushchev has made it clear that he hopes the test-ban treaty will be the beginning of a step-by-step settlement of other cold war issues.