DECLASSIFIED Authority END 5% om olNG TELEGRAM Department of State INDICATE 3 cans to CONFIDENTIAL Classification I SENT TO Ammassy PARIS IOPOI PRIORITY Ammbassy PARIS FOR INFO Info ETD INFO LCNDON Deliver Burgess 8 0 Jovelnber 9 6 and copy Irish resolution as tabled at UN should and consistent positions on this resolution at UN 7 of US comments in debate on this item at UN ham -Dullod by -H egg 4 grip l-Ioguphi ilansmusbn approved Department disturbed over failure British and some other NATO allies fully appreciate restrictive implications Irish resolution have on possible future developments within NATO and on future disarmament negotiations You hm therefore mm consult within NAG Wednesday November 9 to explain US position and to urge NATO governments give most thoughtful consideration views and desirability presenting unified EUR - Mr Kohler I960 mov s PM 8 21 fat on only '3815 OTTAWA Manna 97f Deptel 8118 to USUN info TOPOL 61 1 confirms US decision abstain on Irish resolution Department repeating for your background info USUN 1209 098- You should draw on following points some of which will form essence l Q humansMr HcSweene 11x - Mr Gulli COIFIDENICEAI Classificat m Wm gai NOV 3 on an - hmmetter FR 1 Fh H REPRODUCTION COPY IS PROHIEII UNLESS R g i Authority telegram tows PERIS CONFIIENTIAL Classification 1 It is true that the Irish resolution speaks only of relinquishing j to any nation not possessing than control 0 nuclear weapons and this would not be strictly inconsistent with development possible future HMO sharing arrange- ments However US believes that this distinction is artificial and would not Justify our later interpretation of the resolution as being consistent with possible future expansion stockpile other steps strengthen HMO deterrent capability FYI UK appears to be relying upon this distinction in 1 order to Justify its own vote in favor END Fill 2 US will emphasize in explanation of vote at UN that it Opposes proliferation independent national nuclear capabilities and ownership that under our public law's no nuclear leapons are transferred to any other country and that we do not transfer information which might assist any other country not already having a substantial capability in this field to design or manu- facture atomic weapons 3 Despite this basic US position and our appreciation of motivation concern and objectives underlying Irish resolution we continue to believe that problem to which Irish resolution addresses itself is at bottom a problem of nuclear disarmament While passage Irish resolution would constitute nothing more than GA recomendation we believe it highly undesirable 'to undertake implied moral commitments of this nature which without time limits would impose limitations on ability Free World States in future to take steps which ab L CONFIDENTIAL Classification Au lority 5% ny DECLASSIFIED 1 telegram to Amembassy PARIS CONFIDENTIAL Classi cation 1 we might regard as necessary for up-to-date individual or collective self defense Furthermore since obligation is essentially uncontrollable although this is not major point - we would have no assurance that other States were not themselves acting inconsistently with GA recommendation h Declaratory approach implicit in Irish resolution would constitute precedent which if applied in disarmament areas could undermine western position on indispensability effective controls 5 Point can also be made that to extent which nth country problem is cause of concern to Soviets adoption of resolution such as Irish particularly with western support would reduce pressure on Soviets to agree to meaningful disarmament measures such as cutoff nuclear production to cope with this problem 5 a 6 we are aware a number of NATO dale to UN appear ready support Irish is resdlution Object above instruction to ensure greatest possible alignment NATO members with US abstention and members should be urged support US position In any case discussion should result in broadest possible consistency statements to be made by governments in debate on this item In particular other NATO gorernments should be willing support US statement as to validity nuclear weapons deterrent as part collective security requirement in accordance NATO Heads of Government decision December 1957 DILLON CONFIDENTIAL arxification This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu