ON THE USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

MARK CLARK. Typed Letter Signed, Charleston, SC, 3 September 1976. 1 page, 11" x 8½", on his letterhead as President Emeritus of The Citadel.

The American general Mark Clark is best-known for his service in World War II, in which he helped plan the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 and then commanded the U.S. Fifth Army and later the Fifteenth Army Group in Italy from 1943 to 1945. Clark was named commander-in-chief of U.N. forces in Korea in May 1952, and he signed the Korean armistice in July 1953. After his retirement later that year, Clark spent over a decade as head of The Citadel, the military college in South Carolina.

Here, Clark replies to a “question on the use of atomic weapons should another world war conflict get started. That’s a hard question to answer, for many factors are involved,” he observes. “The two countries with the large stockpiles are of course, the United States and Russia. Both would be reluctant to commence using atomic weapons but I believe if, as you have stated another worldwide conflict starts, someone, sooner or later would resort to the use of atomic weapons. It is more than likely that if such a conflict does develop, it would be initiated by the Soviet Union, in which event I would feel that the United States would have every right to retaliate with any weapon in its arsenal in order to maintain its survival.” He has signed, “Mark W. Clark.”

The lettersheet has a few slight creases but is overall in very good condition. $250.00

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