ABSTRACT
By the summer of 1962 it was evident that a major preoccupation of the Kennedy administration had become the potential for German nuclear ambitions to destabilise the position in central Europe, particularly once Adenauer had left the political scene. There seemed every reason in continuing to try to meet European concerns over US readiness to provide nuclear support to the Alliance through this lower-key route. Meanwhile, the BNDSG was nearing the end of its long consideration of future options for maintaining a national deterrent force which had become more than ever associated with Conservative defence policy. The Group's efforts would, however, receive overall direction from a new Minister of Defence. Macmillan's ruthless cull of the Cabinet in mid-July 1962 saw Watkinson lose his ministerial office, and the arrival of Peter Thorneycroft at the MoD in his place. Scott's entreaties appear to have had some effect, as towards the end of October he was asked to reconvene the BNDSG.
