File of material relating to defence issues, particularly relating to policy concerning nuclear deterrents, including:

• news articles and published material concerning nuclear weapons , particularly the use of Trident as a replacement for the United Kingdom's Polaris system
• Material concerning the American Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI or `star wars' programme) to provide a defence system against ballistic missiles by use of weapons and sensors in space; including letter from David Owen to Margaret Thatcher opposing the SDI, 17 Dec 1984, with Margaret Thatcher's reply, 3 Jan 1985; Hansard extracts, article and further correspondence discussing SDI etc 1985-1986
• Material concerning attempts to introduce a Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) for nuclear weapon tests, including correspondence between David Owen and Lord Zuckerman Aug-Oct 1985; correspondence between David Owen and Margaret Thatcher, Dec 1985-Sep 1986//Jun 1988
• Papers concerning formation of SDP and SDP/Liberal Alliance policy on defence; including draft extract from SDP policy white paper, Feb 1983; copy of David Owen's letter to David Steel criticising Liberal Party proposals for Polaris refitting reported in the press, with copied press cuttings, Oct 1986; public letters to David Owen expressing concern at SDP/Liberal Alliance disagreement over nuclear weapons policy, with copies of David Owen's replies, Mar 1985-Oct 1986; copied articles on Alliance defence policy etc
• Hansard extracts of speeches made by David Owen in Parliamentary debates on defence 1981-1986
• Transcript of speech by David Owen delivered to the Groupe de Bellevive Colloquium on the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Geneva, 29 Jun 1984
• Correspondence of David Owen with John D. Steinbruner of The Brooklings Institution, Washington and Roderic Lyne Private Secretary to the Prime Minister discussing establishment of international standards for the physical security and accounting of all fissionable material, Oct 1994.