Britain, France to Keep Their Forces Out of Nuclear Talks

French and British leaders Monday agreed to reject any attempt to involve their nuclear forces in Soviet-American arms control bargaining.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met President Francois Mitterrand at a chateau at Benouville, France, for two hours of talks before flying to Bonn where she met for the same length of time with Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

She told reporters the meetings with the French and German leaders were almost entirely devoted to arms control and the latest Soviet proposals to speed Soviet-American talks on removing medium-range nuclear missiles from Europe.

“The U.K. (United Kingdom) and French independent nuclear deterrents are not involved in these negotiations,” Thatcher told reporters in France. “They are crucial, and their continuance is crucial, to the defense of our two countries.”

Mitterrand, referring to Thatcher’s visit to Moscow next week, said he has not charged her with any mandate to speak on France’s behalf, but on this issue “Mrs. Thatcher can very well say it on behalf of our two countries.”

‘Very Useful’ Talks

Thatcher said the talks with Mitterrand were “very useful in clarifying our position on arms control negotiations.”

“Though we will not be a party to them,” she said, “the whole of Europe and the Western World will be deeply affected by their results, and it is important for our future that those negotiations are right.”