5 October 1962: Ignatieff Briefing

In preparation for a briefing on the “alert problem” scheduled for 11 October 1962, Ignatieff seeks approval for his proposed discussion points. Ignatieff wanted a firm distinction between military and civil alert measures as well as a distinction between general alerts and alerts designed for the Berlin contingency plans. There had “already been some confusion on this point” and further clarification was required before Canada would approve the plans.

Also included in this document is another message from Ignatieff on the same day—5 October 1962—that he discusses the use of nuclear weapons in the BERCON plan. He still had doubts about their inclusion and felt that it was necessary to express these doubts “without further delay.” Despite his strong feelings against nuclear weapons, Ignatieff says “I think we should avoid getting ourselves in the position of insisting that the nuclear pages be torn out of the Berlin catalogue.” Well aware that NATO needed to display solidarity, Ignatieff suggests “seek[ing] approval for as much of the plans as we can.”