https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/8266e8158cf887bf5832910a2887561a.pdf 73b03108bfff18c44771c6da4f8d8296 PDF Text Text ^ ^ ^ /£ BEST ORIGtiiM. A '•••—L MEILLEUR ORIGINAL <L= Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act - -p r •• S E C R E T March 16, 1965 ' (Se^f^y Au- Zdi^s^ iTC3>£ 4*-> c*~^^v«J\ Authorization for the Use of Nuclear Weapons —^ As the announcements of August 16 and October 9t 1963 indicated, the nuclear weapons available to both United States and Canadian forces in Canada and to Canadian forces in Europe are under joint control, and cannot be used without authorization by both the Canadian Government and the United States Government, 2, The use of any of these weapons would be authorized by the Government only in the light of a careful appreciation of all relevant considerations both political and military, based on the fullest possible consultation with other governments including in particular the United States Government, 3» With regard to the manner in which the Government would fulfil these responsibilities, the circumstances in North America and in Europe are different, *+. Nuclear weapons in Canada are available only to Canadian and United States air defence forces assigned to the joint North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) • Any operations undertaken by these forces, Including operations involving nuclear weapons should that ever be necessary, would be under the command of CdNCNORAD who exercises his command responsibilities in accordance with political directives and military plans approved by the Governments of Canada and the United States, 5* Arrangements have been made for consultation between the two Governments about any situation which might lead to a requirement for CINCNORAD's forces to employ nuclear weapons. Procedures and facilities have been established which ensure that such consultation would be prompt and effective. This has been done within the general framework of the arrangements whereby the two Governments jointly direct all activities of the NORAD Command. By these means the Government is in a position/to ensure that its control of nuclear weapons made available to NORAD forces in accordance with the agreements announced on August 16 and on October 9* 1963 is fully effective. \ • • • * 6, Nuclear warheads available to Canadian forces assigned to NATO in Europe are held, as Indicated in the announcement of August 16, 1963i by U.S. custodial units co-located with the Canadian units concerned. These warheads may be released from • * • Ct 000727 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur I'acces a I'information BEST ORIGINAL AVAILABLE MEJLLEUR ORIGINAL 'RAFT 2. S E C R E T custody and employed operationally by the Canadian units in question only with the separate authorization of each of the two Governments. 7« Should the operational employment of these weapons ever become necessary and be authorized by both Governments, the military operations concerned would be under the command of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), at present General Lemnitzer. General Lemnitzer was appointed to this command with the approval of the NATO Council, and exercises his command authority in accordance with political directives and military plans approved collectively by the NATO Governments, Provision exists for consultation in the NATO Council about any situation which might lead to a requirement for SACEUR*s forces to employ nuclear weapons in defence of NATO territory or forces. 8, In addition, there is provision in the bilateral agreement of August 16, 1963 with the United States for intergovernmental consultation prior to the release of the nuclear warheads in question from U.S. custody to the Canadian units concerned, procedures and facilities have been established which ensure that such consultation would be prompt and effective. 9« While security considerations preclude the making public of detailed information about these various arrangements, they include provision for the possibility of a sudden outbreak of hostilities, In such a way that operational military requirements are adequately met while the responsibility of the Government is maintained for the control of nuclear weapons and for the decision as to when their use might be required. � 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 CDNW18125 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Defence - Conventional and Nuclear Armaments - Nuclear Weapons Policy,” RG25-A-3-c, File number: 27-11-1, File part: 1, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource LAC ATIP A-2017-00249 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Crown Copyright 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 ENG