Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On 3 April 1963, a year before becoming Prime Minster, Labour Leader Harold Wilson visited Washington to meet with President Kennedy and other US politicians. At a time where the threat of nuclear war loomed over the world, UK-US relations stood firm in their alliance. In a speech at the National Press Club, Wilson emphasised Britain's support of NATO and want to further the relationship. Three days after his visit the Polaris Sales Agreement was signed on 6 April 1963, acting as an execution of the Nassau Agreement stating the US would supply Britain with Polaris missiles and Britain would manufacture submarines and warheads. This treaty meant the US had certain assurances by Britain in terms of the usage of the missile but not a veto on British nuclear weapons. The Agreement was amended in 1982 due to the sale of the Trident missile system.
#ColdWar #HaroldWilson #BritishPolitics #PoliticalHistory
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On 3 April 1963, a year before becoming Prime Minster, Labour Leader Harold Wilson visited Washington to meet with President Kennedy and other US politicians. At a time where the threat of nuclear war loomed over the world, UK-US relations stood firm in their alliance. In a speech at the National Press Club, Wilson emphasised Britain's support of NATO and want to further the relationship. Three days after his visit the Polaris Sales Agreement was signed on 6 April 1963, acting as an execution of the Nassau Agreement stating the US would supply Britain with Polaris missiles and Britain would manufacture submarines and warheads. This treaty meant the US had certain assurances by Britain in terms of the usage of the missile but not a veto on British nuclear weapons. The Agreement was amended in 1982 due to the sale of the Trident missile system.
#ColdWar #HaroldWilson #BritishPolitics #PoliticalHistory
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/film?phrase=X03046301*&collections=itn&sort=newest
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
