154. National Security Decision Memorandum 1041

TO

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Defense

SUBJECT

  • Cooperation with France on Nuclear Safety

The President has directed that discussions with the French Government concerning nuclear safety be reopened. He has decided that we should be prepared for an exchange of unclassified and classified information relating to nuclear safety up to, but not including Restricted Data. Information on nuclear safety standards, safety devices and procedures, safety design and command and control arrangements [Page 557] can be shared with the French consistent with the above security limitation.

In this connection the President desires that:

1. The Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (a) arrange to inform the French Government of our willingness to discuss with them an information exchange on nuclear safety; and (b) be responsible for determining the specific areas of nuclear safety on which we might share information with France on the basis of the above security guidelines.

2. The Secretary of State in consultation with the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency determine whether any constraints might be placed on such cooperation by our obligations under the Limited Test Ban Treaty and the Atomic Energy Act.

3. The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission inform the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy of our willingness to resume discussions with the French in this area, and that no exchange of Restricted Data will be involved.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 678, Country Files—Europe, France, Vol. VIII. Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.