BASIC PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE 2004
New Report on US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration:
Shining a torch into the darker recesses of the ‘special relationship’
Full text of the new BASIC Report, US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration
under the Mutual Defence Agreement: Shining a torch on the darker
recesses of the ‘special relationship’, is now available at http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/MDAReport.pdf.
BASIC and Alan Simpson MP will tomorrow release an important and
timely report on a clandestine and legally questionable 46-years
old nuclear weapons agreement between the US and UK Governments.
The Report, US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration under the Mutual
Defence Agreement: Shining a torch into the darker recesses of the
'special relationship', will be available in hard copy to MPs
and journalists who attend a press conference in Room W3 in the
House of Commons from 09.00 on Thursday 17 June. The New Scientist
magazine is running an exclusive article, published on the same
day. Electronic copies of the report will be available on BASIC's
website at noon on Thursday.
Since at least July 2003, the British Government has been discussing
the renewal of a bilateral agreement with the US administration
that has its origins in the Cold War and permits the exchange of
classified nuclear information, advanced technology and a range
of materials (including plutonium, highly enriched uranium and tritium).
The 1958 Agreement For Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy
for Mutual Defence Purposes - also known as the 'Mutual Defence
Agreement' (MDA) was last updated and signed in Washington on 23
May 1994 and ratified by the end of that year. The MDA must be renewed
by the end of 2004, or fall.
On Tuesday this week, President Bush sent the 2004 MDA amendment
to Congress with a letter of support from himself and the 'unclassified'
version of a joint letter from Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Energy (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040614-15.html).
The President "approved the Amendment, authorized its execution,
and urged Congress to give it favorable consideration" as: "The
United Kingdom intends to continue to maintain viable nuclear forces"
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040614-16.html).
The report shows how unaccountable the executive arm of the British
government has been on this important issue, and how unwilling it
has been to debate the rationale behind the MDA. As a result of
the author's efforts to gather evidence for this report, Ministers
have had to be more explicit about their plans for renewal, but
much more openness is still needed. In particular, the report recommends
that both the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees hold an inquiry
into the MDA renewal, and that the Government set aside time for
a parliamentary debate.
In addition, because the MDA sits uneasily with the UK's Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commitments, BASIC and The Acronym
Institute are considering engaging a barrister to give an opinion
on its legality under international law. As BASIC Analyst and a
co-author of the report, Nigel Chamberlain said: "The fundamental
purpose of the NPT is the prevention of wider dissemination of nuclear
weapons. In reality, this is exactly what the MDA provides - an
open ended arrangement for the UK and US to 'disseminate' information,
technology and materials in their pursuit of more sophisticated
nuclear weaponry".
With increasing speculation about the UK developing new nuclear
warheads, in cooperation with the US, and with a decision needed
soon on replacing Trident with a new delivery system, the 2004 MDA
renewal is a highly significant event. According to Alan Simpson
MP: "We have to insist that the government line doesn't drift
into a new era of nukes or mini-nukes that are in violation of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. It would only be an invitation for others
to seek to join the nuclear club in the same way."
For further information or to arrange interviews:
please call Nigel Chamberlain on 020 7324 4684
or Nicola Butler on 020 8440 9276
The text of the Mutual Defence Agreement is available at: http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/1958MDA.htm.
The 1994 House of Commons debate (House of Commons, Official Report,
15 December 1994, column 1222) can be read online at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199495/cmhansrd/1994-12-15/Debate-12.html
(scroll down to Column 1222).
Further information about the Ponsonby Rule is available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ponsonbyrule,0.pdf.
|
