In this interview excerpt, Francis Gutmann, an official in the French Foreign Ministry from 1951 to 1957 and Secretary-General of the External Relations Ministry from 1981 to 1985, describes the problems encountered by the Standing Armaments Committee (SAC) of Western European Union (WEU) in contributing to arms standardisation and joint production, particularly owing to a lack of political commitment. He also discusses France’s particular interest in the SAC.

In this interview excerpt, Francis Gutmann, an official in the French Foreign Ministry from 1951 to 1957 and Secretary-General of the External Relations Ministry from 1981 to 1985, discusses France’s refusal to cooperate with the Agency for the Control of Armaments of Western European Union (WEU) in the nuclear field, since deterrence in this area is considered to be the preserve of France.