https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/97383e1be2048dae498a8e335edb0df3.pdf d49c8d4f9a51cb02d5a36f0de1d6ae24 PDF Text Text Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la LoilMr^'aSie7£a^SnJormation Extract from Cabinet Defence Committee Minutes Meeting 109 - April 19, 19£6 - Item I PROCEDURES FOR CONSULTATION ON ALERTS /v**^ ' File: £0028-BX-lfO cc:on 50030-AB-l|LLO 1. The Minister of National Defence said that the question of procedures for alerting the North American air defence system had been under consideration for some 'ffi&el In order"to ensure that the government would be in a position to decide whether an Alert should be called and Valso be consulted by the U.S. Government, some exploratory 'talks had been held with U.S. officials. It was understood that the U.S. authorities would be likely to view an official approach on this subject favourably at the present time. He submitted two letters which It was proposed be sent to the'U.S. Secretary of State* The first was designed to ensure that both governments would have available all relevant intelligence on a situation which might lead either to declare an Alert. Only if the two were In possession of the same set of facts, and an assessment of those facts, could subsequent consultation be conducted on a realistic basis. The second letter was designed to ensure consultation over the actual question of calling the Alerts. To ensure efficient working of the indications centre of the Joint Intelligence Committee in Ottawa there was a requirement for additional facilities and two or three officers. He recommended, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for External Affairs, that the two letters be approved and that the requirement for an additional small expenditure for the Joint Intelligence Committee be noted. An explanatory memorandum had been circulated. '(Memorandum, Minister of National Defence and Secretary of State for External Affairs, April 16, 1956 - Document Dl-£6). 2. During the discussion the following points emerged: (a) One of the purposes of the proposed exchanges was to deal with false alarms from the warning lines, should they occur. Of course the main purpose was to ensure adequate consultation before a recommendation was made in either country for the calling of an Alert, which would be a most serious matter. (b) It was impossible to determine in advance how much consultation would be sufficient before a decision was taken to call an Alert, and it was difficult to work out procedures. However, there was very little that was more important than the actual calling of an Alert and everything should be done to ensure that this step was taken only if the necessity was clearly demonstrated. (c) The United States proposed to evacuate the principal government activities from Washington on the calling of an Alert. There were in existence now re-location sites outside of the capital for the nucleus of various governmentsdepartments. The matter related to Vthe whole governmental organisation and in no way would the procedure hold up air defence activity since the Air Defence Commanders in both countries now had the necessary authority to alert their own forces in the event of warning of an attack. ..2 000227 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loisur I'acces a I'information - 2 - TOP SECRET 3* The Committee approved the joint recommendation of the Minister of National Defence and the Secretary of State for External Affairs, and: (a) agreed that the two letters on procedures for consultation with the United States on Alerts, as submitted, be sent to the U.S. Secretary of State by the Canadian Ambassador in Washington; and (b) noted that there would be a requirement for an additional small expenditure to ensure the efficient working of the indications centre of the Joint Intelligence Committee. TOP SECRET 000228 � 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 CDIW00067 Title A name given to the resource CDIW00067 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Tripartite Intelligence Alerts Agreement," RG25, Box 34, File 29-3-1-2, Part 1, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Department of External Affairs Subject The topic of the resource Intelligence 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 https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/staging/CanadaDeclassifieditems-November2020/CDIW00067.pdf Language A language of the resource en