123. National Security Study Memorandum 471
TO
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT
- Military Relations with France
1. The President has directed that a study be made of US policy options with respect to military relations with France. The study should include options in the area of nuclear weapons cooperation. It should include a statement of pros and cons for the options considered. The study should contain a consideration of the effect on our other alliance relationships including specifically nuclear relations with the UK. It should also consider possible French initiatives with which we may expect to have to deal.
2. The President wishes to emphasize that this study must be treated with the utmost discretion within the US Government and that an absolute minimum of essential individuals should participate in and have knowledge of it.
3. The President has directed that this study is to be conducted by the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Europe which, for this purpose, should consist only of representatives of the recipients of this memorandum and the Assistant to the President for National Security. A representative of the Chairman, AEC should participate only in those portions of the study relevant to that Commission’s responsibility. The study should be completed by June 20.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–147, National Security Study Memoranda, NSSM 47. Top Secret; Nodis; Noforn. Copies were sent to the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Atomic Energy Commission.↩