Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, signed on August 5, 1963, marked a significant moment during the Cold War, as it represented a collaborative effort among three major nuclear powers: the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The treaty prohibited nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space, aiming to minimize radioactive fallout and environmental contamination. This treaty was the culmination of extensive discussions that had begun in the early 1950s, reflecting a growing global concern over the dangers of nuclear proliferation and its environmental impact.
President Kennedy announced the initiation of talks in June 1963, leading to a relatively swift agreement within a few weeks. This treaty, which was ratified by the U.S. Senate shortly afterwards, was notable for its unlimited duration while allowing for potential amendments. Though it faced criticism later for being too restrictive, it was considered an essential first step towards establishing nuclear arms limitation and fostering international dialogue on disarmament. The treaty underscored the complex dynamics of international relations during the Cold War and set a precedent for future agreements aimed at controlling nuclear weapons.
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
In a milestone of the cold war, on August 5, 1963, the United States signed a limited nuclear test ban treaty with the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. The three countries pledged “not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion” in the atmosphere, under water, or in outer space. The treaty also prohibited tests that would cause radioactive fallout to occur outside of the territory of the country conducting the test.
The treaty was the result of years of test ban discussion that began in the early 1950s. On June 10, 1963, President Kennedy announced that the three countries, who were the world's dominant nuclear powers, would hold meetings in Moscow, Russia. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev called for an agreement outlawing nuclear tests in the atmosphere, under water, and in outer space on July 2, 1963. The Moscow meetings began on July 15, 1963.
The discussions proceeded swiftly, a rather unusual occurrence in the normally testy United States-Soviet relationship. In less than two weeks the terms of the treaty were agreed upon, and it was initialed on July 25, 1963. The formal signing took place in Moscow on August 5, 1963, with Secretary of State Dean Rusk representing the United States, Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, representing the Soviet Union, and Foreign Minister Lord Home representing the United Kingdom.
On September 24, 1963, the United States Senate ratified the treaty by a vote of 80 to 19. It was signed by President Kennedy on October 7, 1963, and entered into force on October 10, 1963. The treaty was of unlimited duration, but permitted amendments. In later years the treaty was occasionally criticized as too limited, but at the time it was an important first step in the process of imposing nuclear arms limitations.
Set forth below is a copy of the treaty, whose formal title is actually Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water.
The Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the “Original Parties,”
Proclaiming as their principal aim the speediest possible achievement of an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations which would put an end to the armaments race and eliminate the incentive to the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons,
Seeking to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time, determined to continue negotiations to this end, and desiring to put an end to the contamination of man's environment by radioactive substances,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I.
Article II.
Article III.
Article IV.
This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.
Each Party shall in exercising its national sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other Parties to the Treaty three months in advance.
Article V.
This Treaty, of which the English and Russian texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Depository Governments. Duly certified copies of this Treaty shall be transmitted by the Depository Governments to the Governments of the signatory and acceding States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Treaty.
DONE in triplicate at the city of Moscow the fifth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and sixty-three.
[Signatures deleted]