https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/b839fe0ebfbf08f4a78ded5591bd5b73.pdf b2da779f1a41287c3ca057bc583b6cfe PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act ■ Document divulge en vertu de la Loi suri'acces a /'information ■ Copy No. J Ext. 182B 5, of five copies# FILE COPY OTTAWA FILE No WISER Letter No. ......................................... SECURITY CLASSIFICATION Date.. August . 7th, . 1952. ' WISER - TOP SECRET FROM: THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, CANADIAN EMBASSY, WASHINGTON, D.C. TO: THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CANADA Reference.. .. OUT. WAser. Letter. No.. 23. of March. 5th, . 1952......... Subject: ' night necessitte' the use ’ of Atomi c Weapons................. British-American Consultations on Developments which ... k Copies Referred To.................... 1. In the Wiser letter under reference the Ambassador reported a discussion which took place at the State Department on February 5th between British and U.S. officials, in which Sir Oliver Franks set out certain views of the U.K. Government on the nature and effects of In the course of this statement, Sir a general war. Oliver outlined particularly the views of the British Government regarding the possible uses of the technique of ultimatum as a means of deterring Soviet aggression in the event of a clear indication of Soviet aggressive intent on some area the defence of which was regarded as essential to the safety of the Western world. . 2* As the Ambassador reported, the discussion was inconclusive and Sir Oliver was asked to seek a further clarification of U.K. views on this point. - No. of Enclosures Post File No In a conversation with Mr. E. E. Tomkins, First 3. Secretary of the British Embassy,. on Thursday, August 7th, Mr.. Ignatieff was told that some further views of the U.K. Government on this question of the possible use of ultimata to the Soviet Union were expressed in one of the talks which took place when Air Marshal Slessor visited In a conversation at the State Department at Washington. which Sir Oliver Franks and Air Marshal Slessor were present, the British Ambassador informed the State Department orally of these views, which had been communicated to him by the Foreign Office. Apparently the U.K. authorities now consider that it is impossible to lay down in advance Recognizany firm rule on the possible use of ultimata. int that there might be serious military disadvantages in giving the Soviet Government advance notice of allied intention, it is now suggested that it would be necessary to consider in the circumstances which might arise, the . balance of advantage and disadvantage which would be gained from employment 'of this method., it was the British view, however, that the ultimatum, if used,, should be presented to the Soviet Government in secret in the first instance at In the event of a satellite attack, least,, as a warning.. it would be necessary to determine in the circumstances of each case whether, the ultimatum would be made to the satellite government or to the Soviet Government. Mr. Tomkins said that the U.S. officials present o at the meeting noted this further statement of U.K.. views and made no comment. (Sgd. ) 81.gm W. D. MATTHEWS. Charge d*Affaires. 00168 � 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 CDNW (Wiser) 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 CDNW16861 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW16861 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wiser Consultations, RG25-B-2, Volume number: 3095, Library and Archives Canada.