https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/c0251bd98bd53cf1faf0f7b40c8e955e.pdf d167b559134aef2bef46bb2c0545a7e6 PDF Text Text D.L.(1)g8RRemeatcsgzrcendestngqgsaloeso"nPOAafon DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MEMORANDUM TO: European Division from- Defence Liaison I REFERENCE: V f Security Confidential July 27, 1959. Date File No. s . 50//5-45% eLS _2 - Political Implications of NATO Exercises r2 D * ) As you know, we have been concerned for 7 some time with the question of the political -= 4 implications of NATO exercises, and have made known—2-in NATO our view, which is shared by some other —-delegations, that the Council should be given an op—-- portunity to review this aspect of the more politically e sensitive exercises. CIRCULATION 2. We have now been informed of action taken with respect to the forthcoming exercise "Freshwater" which indicates that increased consideration is being given by the military authorities to our point of view. Exercise Freshwater is a NATO naval exercise which is to be held from August 3 to 13 in the approaches to the Baltic. Limited naval forces from Denmark, the German Federal Republic, Norway and the United Kingdom are to take part. The basic aims of the Exercise are stated to be: firstly, to exercise Danish and West German naval forces in their wartime tasks and, secondly, to test the existing naval command organization for the Baltic Approaches area. Copies of the relevant documents, telegrams 1368 and Im-62 of July 6 and 17 from NATO and NATO Documents RDC/59/188 of June 29 and RDC 59/207 of July 15 are attached. ....2 Ext. 326 ( 6 / 56) 000780 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi surl’acces a /’information - 2 - The possibility of political implications 3. was taken into consideration, and SACEUR maintained close touch with the Danish and German national authorities during preparations for the Exercise. Moreover, the Standing Group subsequently drew specific attention to certain factors which might bear on the Exercise, such as Soviet sensitivity regarding the geographical area of the Exercise, the Foreign Ministers1 Conference and Mr. Khrushchev’s projected visit to Scandinavia, and requested SHAPE to modify their public- information policy and proposed press release. (We assume that the cancellation of the Khrushchev visit will not affect public information policy as it now stands.) 4. The practice followed by the Standing Group indicates that political implications are now being given due consideration by the military authorities and that they are aware of the need to consult members of the Council in advance of such exercises. Accordingly, we propose to let the Delegation know that we note with satisfaction that the Standing Group appears to have carefully considered the possible political implications of this Exercise, that Delegations have been kept informed of the steps taken by the Standing Group, and that we consider that the public information policy to be followed in their instance takes into account the political considerations involved. If you agree with our assessment, you might 5. wish to initial the attached telegram to our Delegation and send it on its way. rial son ivision 000781 � 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/. Title A name given to the resource CDEX (NATO Exercises) 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 CDEX00531 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG25, 50115-G-40, "North Atlantic Treaty Organization - Military, naval and air exercises," Part 3, Library and Archives Canada. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Exercises Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en