TROUBLES OVER THE DUTCH NUCLEAR PROPULSION ISSUE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-2-3-27-6
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: August 14, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/07/16 : LOC-HAK-2-3-27-6 ~_._.
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'
TIDE WI~TTE HOUSE
wns~sirrorox
INFORMATION'
August 1~, 19b9
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER
1,
FROM: Helmut Sonnenfeldt,;'-~
,- ~,
SUBJECT: Troubles over the Dutch Nuclear Propulsion Issue
Ken BeLicu returned the basic correspondence on the Dutch nuclear
pxopulsion pxoblein to you on August 12, togethe x with a merx~orandum
noting that several members of the Joint Committee on Atomic
Energy have expressed "intense opposition" to our proposed consulta-
tions with the Dutch (Tab A). BcLieu also mentioned that it was his
understanding from the staff of the Joint Committee that the "subject
is now in suspense. "
The subject, as you know, is now before an interagency working
group charged with defining the area in which the US might move to
assist the Dutch in this regard, and studying the various consequences
fox ourselves and the Dutch. The xxaattex is "in suspense" only to the
extent that the Navy -- according to my State Department informants --
is dragging its feet an the whole operation. The working group had
hoped to have a draft by late August, but prospects are now quite
uncertain .
All this leads m,e to reiterate that at some point in this process
either you or the President ox both will have to do some personal work
on the key members of the Joint Committee if we are to avoid the
development of a pitched battle over the Dutch nuclear pxopulsion
issue. I suggest that you discuss this whole issue with Eliot Richardson
at an eaxly opportunity.
DOE, DOS, NSS, & NAVY
`Review Completed
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WASMINGTC7N
August l2, 1464
MEMURANDCTM FOR HENRY KISSII~GER
Frain; Kenneth E. 1.3eLieu
Subject; LJ. S. -Dutch talks, on Nuclear Propulsion -troubles ahead
with Congress
1, I axn. returning basic correspondence to your office along with:
2. A copy of a Secret letter of 18 June 1464 from Chairman Chet
Holifield which clearly states his position.
3, Several mernbsrs of the Jain AEC Committee have approached me
with their intense opposition to the action described.
4. In discussions yesterday with Staff of Joint AEC, T undorstan_~ d subject
is now in suspense. If so, well and good -- if nat, we indeed can expect
f future trouble.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINOI'ON
MEMORANDUM FROM BRYCE N. HARLOW
FOR ACTION:
1~LCTION REQUESTEb;
1. All necessary action, na return
DATE: ~ t ~"'C~'
F+DR II-iFORMATION ONLY:
?---?
~! ~- i t rn w~+~M
Z. Designarted action, and xeturn to me:
Coxnm?nts
Prepare agenda and Brief
Ikaft reply #or
signature of
CHher
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~ ~.
After your recent meeting with Dutch Prime Minister de Jong.,
the press reported an understanding had been reached to "study the
posssibil.ity of closer cooperation between our twa countries i,n the field
of nuclear propulsion. " The Under Secretaries Committee of the Natioxxal
.Security Council is now studying ways to implement the above decision,
and is grepa.ring recommendations for your approval.
In connection with the upcoming decision on this matter, I believe
it is- most important that you be awaxe of the.. extreme sensitivity of the
Congress on this issue. The Joint Committee on Atam.ic Energy is
unanimously opposed to further sharing of naval nuclear propulsion
tech.nalogy on grounds of national security. Congressman Chet Holifield,.
.the current Chairman of the Committee, Craig Hosmer, the ranking
.minority member, and Senators Pastore, Anderson, Jackson and Aiken
are particularly strong iri their, opposition. The Joint Committee has the
understanding that the Defense Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, CLA,
and the Atomic Energy Commission axe opposed to such disclosure while
only the State Department appears to favor disclosure of this sEnsitive
technology,
I am attachxn.g a copy of a letter dated June 1$, l9bR, which Chet
Holifield sent to the Secretary of State. I believe this best sums up the
Corntz~ittee's attitude, A decision to disclose United States naval nuclear.
propulsion technology to the Dutch would be unpopular.with those in
Congress concerned about the preservation of the United States strategic
deterrent as well as with those who opposed further proliferation of
strategic weapons systems abroad. Another issue which would carne to
the fore i.s than once the United States authorized transmission of nuclear.
submarine technology to the Dutch other NATU nations would be +quick to.
rEquest the same data..
SECRET
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?HET NounELC, uus..
GNAIRMAN
MEL.VIN rRIK?, ILL.
WAYNE N. A$!'INALI.. aw.d. '
JOFIN YOUNG. TE7c. '
iG EOMON1780H, OKLA.
CRAIG NO$MER, CALIF.
WILLIAM N. RAT6s, MASS.
JONN R, ANaERSON. lLL.
WILLIAM M. MC CULL4CH.. OHIO
QJWARb J. N?I$lLR, E74DCtYl'IYE W RiCTUR
SECRET
Q~nttgreg5 of tide ~ttiteb ~tateg
'JOINT GOM1vlITT!`I= ON ATOMIC ENERGY
WASWINGTON, O.G. 20510
June 18, 1969
t~~~?
JOHN o. sASTOwE, R.I.,
VK:E CHAIRMAN
RICHARD .. RUSSELL, GA.
CLANTON P. ANOERSDN, N. MEX..
ALOERT CARE. TENN.
NENRY M. JACKSON, WASH.
GEORGE ~. AIKEH, VT.
WALLACE F. BENNE7T. UTAH
CARL T. CURTII~, NeeR,
NORRI$ COTTON, N.H.
THIS DOCUI~NT CC-riSISTS OF'.,,,PaC.>~5.,
Personal and' Confidential
Honorable William P. Rogers
The Secretary of State
Waehingtan, D. C. 2520
Dear 1-dr. Secretary.
'this material contains lnfarmatian atferCing tho
national defense of the Unted a"tates within the'
meaning of the esgi.,r;.,~e laws, Title 18, U.S.C.,
6ecs. 793 and 79~, thc: transanission ar revelation
of which in atty manner to an unauthorized per$on
is prohibited by law.
I arri taking this means to convey to you the eeribus concern
I and other mexrxbexs caf the Joint Committee have over the turn of
events concerning the possibility of our providing assistance to the. Dutch
fn the field of naval nuclear propulaian.
~'or over a decade there has been a continuing effort by
several of our NA'IIC? allies to obtain assistance in acquiring a nuclear
submarine. capability. Over the years we have received xequests from
Great Britain, France, Italy and the Netherlands., As you know, only
is~, the case of Great Britain did we provide such assistance and this
was done solely because of our special relationship with them in the
development of the atomic bomb. In the case of the'French we did
anpply them with nuclear fuel but na technology. Nurr.erous requests
from the Dutch and the Italians have been rejected.,
This matter bas come. up through four Adrninistratians, and
each time the Joint Committee has taken the position that the disad-
vantages of providing nuclear propulsion technology tD a foreign nation
(other than Great Britain) far outweigh the diplomatic political or
ltnarginal military benefits which rxaight accree to the United States,
~'or the past ten years this position has been adhered to by the United
States Government in its dealings with foreign nations.
After learning that this subject was about to be discussed by
s new Administration with Dutch Prime Minister Z7eTong and. E'oreign
Minister Luna, an May 14, 1969 I wrote to Glenn Seaborg, Chairman
S
~"'"~"" JOiNT C4MMiTfEI~ ON ATCYMiC ENERGY
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of the Atomic Energy Commission. In nr~y letter I reiterated the
Joint Comrt7ittee' a long standing apposition to the proliferation of
submarine nuclear technology, and T said that if circumstances
involving national security have developed which the. Executive Depart-
ment believes are sufficient to change our position vn this muter,
then the Committee wishes to be advised at the earliest passible
~pnorrxent.
The Atomic Energy Commission responded to xny letter on
May z~, 19G9, stating:
". .the positioa recommended by the agencies
concerned is that the Dutch be advised that we are
not in a positio~x to assist them in developing a naval
. nuclear propulsion program. "
Subsequently because of ambiguous press reports indicating
that perhaps the Dutch had obtained mare concessions during their
Washington visit aimed toward obtaining nuclear propulsion data, I
again wrote to Glenn Seaborg sending copies to, you and Secretary
Laird. .Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations
Macomber replied on June 13, 19b9, ,.staying:
. .the Fresident and the Dutch Prime Minister
_ decided to study the possibility of closer cooper~-
tion between our. two countries in the field of nuclear
propulsion. "
I can only conclude from these differing positions that there
has been a significant change in the Admixxistration's policy following
the meetings with the Dutch. If this ie a correct intex~retatian and, if
ix~ fact, the Adrninistrativn intends to provide technical assistance to
the Dutch. then I believe that such a step could. seriously jeopardize
the security of the United States.
The Joint Committee 'bas questioned the wisdom of prol%feratixig
naval nuclear propulsion .technology primarily because of our concern
that. the effectiveness of our nuclear forces would be diminished and that
of the Soviet El'nion enhanced. Nuclear submarine technology has been
one of the key factors in making our POLARIS weapon system the major
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~~
deterrent we have against nuclear war. Ta expand the number of nations
possessing this technology would cextainly increase the probability that
such information will fall into the hands of a potential enemy. In this
regard, the Director of the Central Intellxger~ce Agency stated on
February 20, 1969, befoxe the Joint Committee. that:
"I think anything you give to NATO, you can assume you.
are giving to the Soviets. "
I would hope that this judgrxxent is a conservative one and may
pot apply equally to all our NAT? allies. Nevertheless it is a factor and
it would greatly weakern our national security if the Soviets were able to
discern the strengths and weaknesses of our POLARIS ~subrnarine because
we had handed the blueprints to foreign country(s). 1t should be gointed
out that in order to assist the Dutch in this field it would be necessary tc
go into great detail on all phases of design, production testing, train-
fns and operation.. In addition, granting aid to the Dutch would certainly
open doors. for similax requests from other NATO natians.
The suotained invulnerability of our POLARIS weapon syetexxx
is fragile. Seemingly insignificant leaks of security information on
technical details of our nuclear submarines could provide the Soviet
Union with the means of detecting and destroying Quit POLARLS fleet.
The Committee certainly understands the dilemmas the Executive
Department faces when allies ask for assistance and it is reasonable to
indicate to foreign officials that the United States will "study" the possi-
bility of closer cooperation. However, what concerns the Committee in
this case is that such a promise naay open s nuclear prop~xlsion "Pandora's
Hox" which may ultimately cause ue to lose one of the few remaining
systems in which we clearly have world leadership.
I would appreciate your advising rr~e of the Administration's
ultimate objective in this rnattex.
Sincerely yours,
Chet Holifield
Chairman
SECRET
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THE WHITS HOUSE.
WASWfNGT?N
June 10, 19dq
SEAT
MEMORANDUM FOR ..
The Honorable Glenn -
Chazrman r? 5eaborg
Atomic Energy Coixaxnission
I waxited to call your attention to a .
Comxx,.issi on forwarded a letter to the J ~ that the Atomic Ener
Atomic Ever opt C
gY
c
ommittee on
SY
-~ May 26, which left the far
there would be no m. indication than
cooperation mange in ?ur past Position
h resFect to
with the Dutch %n the field of
The probl
nucl ~r
ezxi of co propulsion.
before a final decism ~u ~ toting ixa.ternal executive deliberations
President's
compounded in this
even
case because .the
Coxr~,ittee..
foal position modified 'what had been told the
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MEMORANDUM ~ - -
JUN 1 9 1~~~
ACT10N
---.----
June 3, 1969
.MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER ~ ~
FROM.: Helmut Sonnenfeldt
SUBJECT: U'S-Dutch Talks. on Nuclear Propulsion: Trouble Ahead
with Congress - .
- As you know, the President and the Dutch have agreed as follows:
"'We decided to study the passibility of closer cooperation between
our two countries in the: field of nuclear propulsion. "
After the Under Secretaries Committee reviewed the matter just before
the .L1y~tch visit and decided~to recommend to the President anon-commital
line, the AEC, aver State l7epartrxYent objection, sent to the Joint Comnnittee
on Atomic Energy the letter at Tab A, This letter left the firm implication
that there would be no change i.n our past negative position and drew a
-- - -response from Chairman Holifield recasting the Executive's supposed
position in even more negative terms (Tab B ), Holifield can now legitimately
claim to have been misled. -~ - -
_ _-~~ I a not know by what authority the AEC made its.. communication to the
Congress of an internal Executive position before that position was approved
by the President and iri a way which it had reason to believe could mislead
---~---~ the Congress about the President's actual position,
The damage is done now and I am afraid there is serious trouble ahead
with Holifield, who wields enormous power.
--~ - I ~s3.nk you should call this breach of discipline to Se~.borg's attention. .
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 "; ~ ?- _~ - - ,- No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/07/16 : LOC-HAK-2-3-27-6 ___
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"_ _No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/07/16 : LOC-HAK-2-3-27-6 ,r3
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declasstfics No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/07/16 : LOC-HAK-2.3_27-6 _r ,.,,,.,, ~?).,, i~, us.r...