198. Memorandum From Secretary of State Herter to President Eisenhower0
SUBJECT
- Atomic Support for French NATO Forces in Germany
In June last year I informed you that we were offering France nuclear capable weapons to equip certain of its NATO-committed forces in Germany.1 That offer, which France accepted, was conditional upon France’s agreeing to negotiate an atomic stockpile agreement whereby these French forces would be supported by the NATO atomic stockpile in Germany. On September 6 such an agreement was concluded in Paris.2
This agreement will enhance NATO defensive strength in that it will make nuclear weapons available to French NATO forces in forward areas in case of need. Conclusion of the Agreement, which applies only to French NATO forces in Germany, has not changed French opposition to the NATO Atomic Stockpile in France proper, for either US or French forces. It is, however, of some significance that the French have accepted the NATO atomic stockpile (and therefore US custody) for their forces at all. They apparently justify acceptance of the stockpile for their forces in Germany on the grounds that this does not conflict with their position that France must control nuclear weapons stored on French soil. One reason for this move may be that the Agreement applies to nuclear capable weapons systems programmed for France for some time and which the French do not wish to forgo. The fact that the Germans do in fact have a nuclear weapons capability under the NATO atomic stockpile may well be another reason why the French want to have the same capability.
To improve the state of training and operational readiness of French NATO forces in respect to nuclear weapons we hope to conclude a cooperation agreement with France under Sections 91c and 144b of the Atomic Energy Act. In April we initiated negotiations with France on [Page 419] such an agreement.3 It is possible that a cooperation agreement will be concluded by the end of this year. If this were to be the case, the Agreement might be ready for submission by you to the Congress early in January.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles-Herter Series. Secret. A handwritten notation on the source text by Goodpaster, dated September 15, reads: “Told State that President had noted and initialled.” The source text bears Eisenhower’s initials.↩
- See Document 122.↩
- A copy of the Agreement between the United States and France Regarding the NATO Atomic Stockpile of Weapons in Germany for Support of and Utilization by French Forces Assigned to NATO signed at Paris on September 6, 1960, was transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 359 from Paris, September 12. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.517/9–1260)↩
- See Document 162 and footnote 3, Document 39. No such agreement was concluded with the French in 1960.↩