The Allies: A European Bomb?

The U.S. came closer than ever before to solid support of a European nuclear force. Under Secretary of State George Ball told a NATO group in Paris: “Should other NATO nations so desire, we are ready to give serious consideration to the creation of a genuinely multilateral medium-range ballistic missile force, fully coordinated with the other deterrent forces of NATO.” Ball even suggested that the U.S. is already “in the process” of supplying ideas and information toward establishment of such a scheme. Still unanswered: whether the U.S. will eventually share its nuclear secrets with Europe.