Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

185. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton) to Secretary of Defense McNamara¹

I–36326/64

Washington, July 10, 1964.

SUBJECT

• African Nuclear Free Zone

1. The following is for your information.

2. The Organization of African Unity will consider at its Cairo conference on 17 July a resolution declaring Africa a nuclear free zone (Tab A).² Our main concern is with that section of Article I which would prevent transport of nuclear weapons in African territory, territorial waters and air space.

3. Approval of the resolution could adversely affect our transit rights since our policy is neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons aboard our ships or aircraft. We would have to answer, or fail to transit. This could result in a situation similar to that now existing in Ceylon where we have not conducted a naval visit since that country instituted a requirement last January requiring a declaration that no nuclear weapons were aboard visiting ships or aircraft.

4. The JCS have indicated they do not favor a NFZ in Africa and that such would have important security implications (Tab B).³ Based on that I have answered Alex Johnson’s inquiry on this subject (Tab C)⁴ by forwarding the JCS comments (Tab B) and certain other information the JCS made available to me. My reply is at Tab D.⁵

5. State has instructed its embassies in key African countries to approach local leaders and attempt to remove or change objectionable transit clause from the proposed resolution.

6. Recommendation: That we take no action on this problem until we can study the African resolution in its approved form.⁶

T. McNaughton

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 68 A 4023, 388.3 Africa. Top Secret.
2. Tab A is a copy of the “Draft Convention for the Denuclearization of the African Continent”; not printed.
3. Tab B is JCSM–577–64, July 2, 1964; not printed.
4. Tab C is a June 19, 1964, letter from Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson; not printed.
5. Not printed.
6. Secretary McNamara initialed his approval on July 11.