Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

Canadian Desk files, lot 69 D 302, “Canada—Continental Defense 1953–1955”

No. 990
The Canadian Minister of National Defense (Claxton) to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)

Ottawa, May 12, 1954.

Dear Mr. Secretary: In a speech at Colgate University on April 29, 1954, Representative Cole made an important contribution to public understanding of some aspects of continental defence.

There are parts of this speech, however, which should be read against the background of the experience of the governments and armed forces of Canada and the United States.

The subject of continental defence against new means and methods of attack on North America has been under intense and urgent consideration at every level of those responsible in our two countries throughout the whole period beginning even before the end of the Second World War.

In the course of this there has not been an important point on which the representatives of the United States and Canada have failed to reach agreement.

In fact, the working agreement for the close cooperation of our forces has been closer and more effective than that ever achieved between any two countries.

This has been repeatedly emphasized by leaders in Canada and the United States. The most recent expressions of this agreement were contained in the President’s statement on his visit here in November, 1953,¹ and in the joint statement issued in both countries on April 8, 1954.²

This has been the subject of intense, urgent and continuous consideration between yourself and your colleagues and their predecessors and myself, as well as between the Chiefs of Staff and the Commanding Officers of the various services and commands in Canada and the United States.

In this speech Mr. Cole made some suggestions regarding matters which are within the scope of the authority of yourself and others responsible for defence policy in your country.

Any suggestion that might be made by your government would, of course, receive the most serious consideration of the Canadian government.

There is another point, however, in his speech to which I should make express reference.

In his speech he said, “Negotiations with the Canadian government on the subject of where, how and by whom the first of such early warning lines would be built and operated have been in progress for nearly two years.” I feel that on this you will agree that there have been no negotiations between our two countries which “have been in progress for nearly two years.” What have been under way are studies by a number of different agencies in the United States, in Canada, and jointly, with a view to determining what further development of our continental defence system is required and how this can best be carried out.

There has been no delay in negotiation of any kind for which the government or services of either the United States or Canada could in any sense be held responsible.

Any misunderstanding on this point will only add to confusion, misunderstanding and difficulties in the way of working together as we have done in the past.

If Mr. Cole, or anyone else, has any reports of such a delay in negotiations for which we on our side are in any sense responsible, I would be only too glad to learn what they are so that any misinformation or misapprehension may be corrected in the light of the facts.³

Yours sincerely,

Brooke Claxton

1. Reference is to President Eisenhower’s address before the Canadian Parliament on Nov. 14; see Document 982.
2. See Document 988.
3. Wilson answered this letter on June 30, assuring Claxton that the United States would give most careful consideration to any defense proposals put forward by Canada, and affirming his confidence that officials of the two governments, at all levels, would continue their close coordination on efforts to make more effective the defense of the North American continent. (Canadian Desk files, lot 69 D 302, “Canada—Continental Defense 1953–1955”)