Record of the Meeting of Consultation Between Representatives of the Canadian and United States Governments, September 24, 1954

This document covers the early Canadian and American appraisals of the situation in Quemoy and highlights divergences between their policies on China. The Canadians emphasized the legal requirement of UN approval for any intervention in the coastal islands dispute, a condition unlikely to be met. Relatedly, Canadian and American representatives concluded that a Sino-Soviet split was unlikely and that the Soviets were not seeking to incite a war.

Both the Canadians and the Americans were, however, concerned about the implications of the Soviets’ increased weapons and nuclear stockpile on their continental defence of North America. Specifically, they were worried that the Soviet Union would think itself capable of “conduct[ing] a crippling attack on the United States retaliatory capacity” and, thus, attack the continent without fear of consequence and “might advance the date on which the Soviet Union would be prepared to risk a third world war.” The Canadians pressed for a joint study to review their joint continental defence and consider possible improvements to their North American security.

Representatives also discussed topics of Europe and the EDC, Soviet intentions and threats, and continental defence in greater depth.