Independence Reconsidered: II

Abstract

Britain’s atomic relations with the Commonwealth and Europe had been governed until the end of 1947 by the attitude of the United States, or by fear of their attitude. The Quebec Agreement may have covered only the war period, but its status was dubious and Britain had continued to adhere to the clause which forbade the disclosure of any information to other countries without American agreement. This was not simply a matter of possible legal obligation. Britain realised that her chances of returning to some kind of atomic energy collaboration with the United States would be lost forever if she seemed ready to pass on to others atomic information, even that which she had acquired by her own labours.