No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 19 NLC-3-20-8-1 THE WHITE HOUSE TOP SEORET· · WASHINGTON October 15 1979 Dear Madame Prime Minis ter As we go forward in the North Atlantic Alliance toward a decision on Theater Nuclear Forces I want to share with·you my views on the decisions which you and I will make concerning cooperation in the future modernization of the British nuclear deterrent First I can assure you that my approach to the question of modernizing your strategic forces -including the option of the C-4 Missile system -will be affirmative and fully in keeping with our traditional relationship of close cooperation in the strategic nuclear field Second with respect to the delicate question of timing of the decisions I believe it is extremely important to avoid providing any pretext which either the Soviets or some of our more reluctant friends could seize upon to damage the prospects of an Alliance consensus on long-range theater nuclear deployments by the end of the year I believe that too early an exposure of our plans regarding the British deterrent would provide an excuse for some of our friends not to assume their fair share both of LRTNF deployments and of the responsibility for the corresponding decisions Therefore I suggest we discuss this issue including the timing of any British request and •American response when we meet in December I would also propose that to minimize the possibility of inadvertent disclosure we keep to a min'imum discussions between our respective officials civilian and military I know I can count on your understanding of these timing considerations•just as you can be confident TOP SECRET No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 19 NLC-3-20-8-1 No Objection To Declassification in Ful 2013 11 19 NLC-3-20-8-1 2 - TOP SECRET· of my appreciation of the contribution of the British deterrent to the security of the Alliance and of the need for its modernization Sincerely ______ _ The Right Honorable Margaret R Thatcher M P Prime Minister London No Objection To Declassification in Full 2013 11 19 NLC-3-20-8-1