https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/9df8a124e4b7ed34ef5043990b84773a.pdf defcbdc9c482362a271deed2145b0da1 PDF Text Text ... FOR THE MINISTER . . " The NATO Council, as you know, are engaged in a review of the whole strategy of NATO in the context of its long-term As of this study (originally suggested by Mr. the NATO Standing Group have begun a paper which will. attempt, to assess the long-term threat to NATO over the next ten years. A copy of the draft outline of their proposed paper (S.G.M.-681-61) is attached. Quite properly, however, they have come to the for (1) guidance on their basic draft assumptions and (2) on the general framework of the paper and for (3) political, economic and demographic information relevant to any long-term study of this character. To assist the Council in its discussion of thi·s paper, the Secretary-General (see attached paper P0/61/951) has made certain minor suggestions regarding the wording of the assumptions and has given his personal support to the overall approach set out in the paper. He has also suggested that the task of collecting the relevant political, economic and demographic material should be given to the Atlantic Policy Advisory Group, the terms of reference for which were approved, you will recall, last November; preliminary discussion in the Council indicates general support for this suggestion. This matter has been referred for comment to the Chairman, Chiefs, of Staff, vino has had the benefit of the views of the Joint Intelligence Committee. His reply, copy of which is attached, indicates that he approves of the general framework of the study (set out in paragraph seven of S.G.M.-681-61), that he has no comment on the assumptions suggested by the Standing Group (set out in paragraph four) and that he approves of the idea that the Atlantic Policy Advisory Group be given the task of collecting the releyant political, economic and demographic infonaation. For our part we do not share the Chainaan. 1 s views on the acceptability of the proposed assumptions and of the general framework mainly because neither appears to mru{e provision for possible ges in the character and scope of the Soviet threat to North America. For example the only relevant assumption refers to an increasing military threat 11 to the Atlantic Ocean areas": The relevant part of the proposed.framework for the study is described as "the Atlantic" and an ••• 2 A0012901_211-000422 �- 2 - examination of the enclosure (No. 3) dealing with this part indicates that the study will be concerned exclusively with the Soviet threat to sea communications in the Atlantic. Also the proposed section on "other areas" does not appear to allow for any assessment of the future role and influence of Communist China in world affairs. The Secretary-General appears to have recognized the need to take such considerations into account and has noted in his paper (paragraph three of P0/61/951) that the three suggested assumptions "may require .some amplification to allow for the various permutations of the Soviet threat with which the Alliance may be faced in an inteYnational situation that is likely to remain fluid for some time to come". Moreover, it seems to us that in the light of some of President Kennedy's recent statements and Mr. McNamara's recent statement at NATO Ministerial meeting on the relationship between the Soviet capability to attack North America and the need for improved conventional forces_in Europe, that it would be completely unrealistic not to include in any long-term assessment of the threat to NATO the problem of the probable future Soviet threat to North America. However, since we assume you would wish any guidance s.ent to Mr. Leger to be agreed to with National Defence we will,_if you agree, take these points up with the Chairman before preparing any instructions on these parts of the Group's study for your signature. The matter, in any event, is still in the stage of preliminary discussion in the Council. In the meantime I suggest we might provide Mr. Leger. with some comments on the role of the Atlantic Policy Advisory Group for tomorrow's Council meeting. In that connection we would agree with the Chairman that the Advisory Group might be able to take on the task of the relevant polttical, economic and demographic information. At the same time we would agree with Mr. Leger's comment, see attached NATO telegram 71 of January 10, _that a good deal more clarity is required as to what its procedures should be. While there may be some advantage in allowing for flexibility we think the important point to stress is that it should operate at all times under the continuous supervision of the Council and that it should be made clear that any reports or other information which it prepares should be at least noted by the Council before it is sent forward to the Standing Group. -· A telegram setting out preliminary comments on the of the study and on the role of the Atlantic Policy Advisory Group is attached for your if you agree. G[_ [f"N . A • R ._ A0012901_213-000424 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW02896 Title A name given to the resource CDNW02896 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "NATO - Nuclear weapons - Policy - NATO long term planning," RG25-A-3-b, vol 5959, file 50219-AL-2-40, part 3-2, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Nuclear Weapons Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en