417. Message From President Johnson to Prime Minister Home0
Dear Mr. Prime Minister: Thank you very much for your note of December 201 about the understandings which have existed among our predecessors on the use of nuclear weapons. In a general way the understandings seem reasonable to me, but I would like to take advantage of your suggestion that we might settle this matter definitely when we [Page 1139] meet. I am taking particular care with all matters affecting decisions on nuclear weapons, as I am sure you are too, and it will be a help to me not to make any mere formal decision on this point until February. Meanwhile, of course, it is clear (1) that no U.S. nuclear weapons will be used from British territory without your consent, and (2) that we should consult if possible before either of us uses them anywhere.
Sincerely,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides Files, Bundy. Top Secret. Sent by private channel.↩
- Not printed; in it Home referred to President Kennedy’s letter of February 6, 1961 (see footnote 2, Document 379), and asked President Johnson whether the US-UK understanding still remained in force. (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩