Britain, America and the Bomb

Abstract

The dominant theme in the history of the British atomic bomb project has throughout been the relationship with the United States.1 The unique quality of this relationship is, of course, very apparent today. What Britain calls its independent deterrent depends on the provision of missiles, although not of nuclear warheads, from the United States and Britain is the only foreign country to which the United States supplies them.2 How did this very special atomic relationship come to pass? Why has Britain, now a very medium-sized world power and a relatively low economic performer, been over the years so determined to possess its own nuclear deterrent? Before going back to the early formative years I wish to underline one point. I speak of Britain’s special relationship with the United States but at various times Britain’s atomic relationship with America was triangular — with Canada as a third point. The atomic story is indeed an important part of the evolution of Canada’s power status.