https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/a7ff9dd6db156909d7f36d0e61147be4.pdf b36b1fd22d2555eff4a579ec569bd429 PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue m v ^ ^ f c l g ^ f j u g ' t ^ J s - f t I'information fc^j/^*Vtm^?^p-...j&Tl , :,*...-. ^5*in.sftKfcfes-xety^M iTc *2 / O - /^ {— </^0 I ~ f ( ? SECRET §» ^4— fLmf July 17, 1962. MEMORANDUM FOR FILE U.S. - Canada Defence Relations. When Mr. Willis Armstrong, the Charge of the U.S. Embassy, paid his farewell call on the Minister this morning he referred to the fact that some problems existed in our defence relations, particularly in respect of Bomarcs, interceptors, etc. 2. Mr. Armstrong expressed the hope that the Minister and the Prime Minister might have an Opportunity to read the paper which the U.S. military authorities had supplied to the recent meeting of the Permanent Joint Board on Defence. This paper expressed the military views of the United States on the problem of atomic warheads for some of these weapons. 3. Mr. Green indicated that the question of the acquisition of nuclear warheads by Canada was even more difficult now than it had been before the election. He remarked that if a liberal government were to be formed it would take at least as hard a line on these matters. 4. Mr. Green stated that the Government had not discussed these issues since the election but he personally wondered whether it might be possible to work out something which would enable Canada to secure warheads "in a hurry" if that became necessary. While the NDP would no doubt object to even this kind of an arrangement, it seemed possible that the Liberals might be able to go along with it. Mr. Green did not know whether it would be acceptable to the Canadian Government but he thought the possibility worth looking into. 5Mr. Armstrong considered that the question of atomic weapons was one of the most troublesome issues between the two countries. If some progress could be made on it the atmosphere would be substantially improved. 6. Mr. Green observed that Canada was not alone in having difficulties over the acquisition of nuclear weapons. In fact, much the same kinds of problems had arisen in virtually every case where there had been a suggestion of locating weapons in foreign countries where the governments of those countries were expected to take some responsibility for the control of such weapons. The difficulties had been avoided in only those cases where the United States had been allowed to install weapons which remained under their own control. Mr. Armstrong agreed that the tvrablems relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons were <%l£££e peculiar to Canada but they took on a different appearance when they occurred in ahcountry so close as Canada. 7. The Minister enquired again towards the end of the conversation about the possibility of the United States' yr%y,'u ti.i.i^y . .2 002496 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur I'acces a I'information - 2 authorities studying the feasibility of an arrangement for the quick delivery of warheads for use in Canads$T^ t~r*~2fr etf Mr. Armstrong thought the paper submitted to the PJPD set out quite clearly the military difficulties in such an arrangement. The comments presented to the PJPD were based of course on purely military considerations. If the United States Government were to be asked for its view as a government, those comments might be modified by important political considerations. The political as well as military possibilities might be well worth looking into if the Canadian Government so desired. Mr. Armstrong did not consider, however, that the United States Government could volunteer an appraisal of the case. In his view the initiative now rested with the Canadian Government. xjpyi—A.E.R. cc. Mr. R. Campbell 002497 � 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 CDNW17403 Title A name given to the resource "U.S.-Canada Defence Relations," memorandum for file Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 17-Jul-62 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Continental defence - Atomic capability, RG25-A-3-b, Volume number: 5931, File number: 50210-F-40, File part: 8.2