Keeping an Eye on Arms Control Talks: Analyzing Soviet-U.S. Relations and ABM Potential (February-August 1968)

While Canadian officials had been concerned with U.S. ABM deployment vis à vis China, they also kept a close eye on Soviet-American relations in order to understand the likelihood of further deployments. The documents from this period (February to August 1968) focus on Canadian attempts to anticipate, analyze, and track developments regarding Soviet-U.S. talks on the strategic arms race.

These documents show that Canada was confused by Congressional opinion on ABM deployment and arms control negotiations. At the same time, they reveal Canadian officials attempted to understand Soviet thinking on the ABM issue as well. Finally, Canadians took note of American experts who ominously warned that “if no substantial progress emerges soon from the talks- escalation of the arms race appears inevitable.”