https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/8c147f2cd4fb735b3e11141d12fca486.pdf 6733948c5be678451575d04ddf111b28 PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge<aa vertu de la Loi surl’acces a /’information T O/U4Ao CO-P 3 . f it Copy No. 8 of three copies. WISER - TOP SECRET March Sth, 1952* "SPECIAL FLIGHTS" TO AND THROUGH CANADA BY THE UiS.A.F. The Problem. On what conditions should Canada agree to the use by the U.S. Air Force of Canadian territory and airspace for the deployment and storage of atomic weapons, including, in the event of fighting, strikes from Canadian bases, and, in the event of threat of war, of urgent preparations for strikes from Canadian or other bases? General Considerations. 1* If war between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. begins, Canada in all probability will be an ally of the U.S. 2* In such a war, atomic weapons will be employed immediately to hinder Soviet ground and air action; in particular, action with the utmost speed against Soviet airfields from which atomic attacks on the West could be launched will be desirable. 3. When NATO obligations are involved, Canada has agreed that primary responsibility for strategic air action rests with the United States and that Canada should furnish facilities for operations* 4. The characteristics of atomic warfare,. the public attitude towards the use of atomic weapons, the speed with which decisions may have to be reached, and the secrecy which must be maintained in order to obtain the maximum advantage from surprise, combine to establish a valid distinction between U.S. activities in Canada concerned with atomic weapons/ 00110 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi suri’acces a /'information WISER • TOP SECRET* •2= weapons and other U.S. military activities such as the stationing of forces at leased bases and the use of Canadian airfields for non-atomic purposes* 5. The Canadian Government is fully respons- ible for permitting activities by the U.S. forces in Canadian territory and cannot divest itself of this responsibility* 6, The Canadian Government must therefore be in a position to understand and evaluate the reasons for all requests for the use of Canadian territory, and in particular of requests involving atomic weapons* 7 Such an understanding requires a constant review of the circumstances which might give rise to war with the Soviet Union and a general knowledge of the plans of the Strategic Air Command; the Canadian Government must have an opportunity to refuse U.S. requests when to grant them would run counter to its considered views* Conditions Which Should be Fulfilled* is Periodic consultations in Washington on , developments in the world situation should be continued and, if possible, improved in quality* It should be understood that in these consultations the U.S. is under an obligation to inform the Canadian Government of changes in its appreciation of the developments which might lead to general war and of the circumstances in which atomic weapons should be employed* A further attempt might be made to make the consultations tripartite by merging them with the similar consultations with the British Government; if this cannot be achieved, it should be understood that the U.K. and Canadian governments/ 00111 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi surl’acces a /’information € $ -3= WISER , - TOP SECRET*. governments will themselves exchange views on their separate consultations with the U.S. Government* 2. The central object of the consultations; is . to seek to keep in harmony the appreciation in Washington and in Ottawa of the risks of war and of the actions which might have to be taken in various dangerous situations* 3 When particular requests for the use of Canadian facilities are made, they should be presented in such a manner as to explain the pur- pose of the operation; if the purpose is satis— factory to the Canadian Government, detailed arrangements can then be completed through Service channels; should the purpose be unsatisfactory. or the information insufficient to permit a con- sidered judgment, the Canadian Government must be free to withhold approval, or to seek further information before replying to the request* 4a Arrangements for dealing with U.S* requests should therefore distinguish between the general and the particular* General issues should be handled through political channels because they touch on the political responsibility of the Canadian Government, while the particular results of these general issues can be dealt with through Service channels# , /( V hw.gm 00112 � 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 CDNW16884 Title A name given to the resource "'Special Flights' to and through Canada by the U.S.A.F. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08-Mar-52 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wiser Consultations, RG25-B-2, Volume number: 3095