288. Editorial Note
On February 7, 1963, Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin made an oral presentation to Secretary of State Rusk on non-proliferation. He again expressed opposition to any multilateral agreement giving Germany access to nuclear weapons: “The Soviet Government deems it necessary to declare again that transfer of nuclear weapons to the West German armed forces irrespective of the manner in which this is carried out would greatly complicate and aggravate the situation in Europe. The world would be confronted with a new danger and the Soviet Union naturally would be compelled to take all the ensuing measures.” Gromykoʼs statement continued: “The Soviet Government deems it necessary to state that if the U.S. Government actually proceeds with proliferating nuclear weapons to other states participating in NATO and the number of states possessing nuclear weapons is increased the Government of the Soviet Union will be compelled to draw from this necessary conclusions and will respond in kind, that is, will see to it that appropriate countries friendly toward theUSSR will receive nuclear weapons.” In responding Rusk emphasized that the multilateral arrangements which the United States was considering would not increase the number of nations which could fire nuclear weapons. If the Soviet Union wished to make similar arrangements with its allies, the United States would have no objection. For text of the memorandum of conversation and Dobryninʼs oral statement, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume VII, pages 640–644.