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

742.5/3–2354

No. 986
The Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy (Cole) to the Under Secretary of State (Smith)

personal and
confidential

[Washington,] March 23, 1954.

Dear Mr. Smith: This will acknowledge your letter of March 19¹ in reply to my letter of March 5th² requesting a report on our negotiations with Canada concerning establishment of an early warning line for continental defense.

While I appreciate having your prompt reply I confess I am not at all heartened by its contents. Although it is of some gratification to know that the matter of continental defense by joint action of Canada and the United States is under consideration, in spite of your assurances that this project is moving forward with the sense of urgency it merits, it is my belief is not receiving the high degree of priority and urgency which must be given to it.

I think we can or should agree (1) that the common defense requires that there be in being an organization which will be as effective against an aerial nuclear attack as science and our resources will permit; (2) that there can be no effective measures for the defense of the United States without full and active participation of Canada; (3) that there cannot be an adequate defense of Canada without the full participation of the United States; (4) that such organization must be one which is operating as a unit and not one operated independently or concurrently by the two countries; (5) that considerable time will be required to activate such an organization even after an agreement is made and finally, which is the heart of my thesis; (6) that no such organization can be created without a basic agreement between those two countries providing for such an organization.

It occurs to me that the problem is such as to merit an approach by way of a mutal defense pact with Canada, under authority of the UN, comparable in purpose and organization with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

This matter has been under study by our respective countries for over two years and yet nothing of substance has been accomplished. The responsibilities which are imposed upon both the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government to provide for the common defense of our country coupled with the horrible consequences which might result from failure to fulfill those responsibilities promptly, aggressively, and effectively are so commanding that I again, recognizing that it is within the area of responsibility imposed upon the Executive Department by the Constitution, urge in the strongest language possible that the project be pressed with the greatest degree of vigor and sense of urgency.

Although your letter of the 19th is classified as “Secret” and in spite of your admonition in the letter that its contents be maintained as confidential, I must insist upon retaining a degree of freedom of action in this matter which the circumstances may appear to warrant without, of course, making any specific reference to your comments.³

Sincerely yours,

Sterling Cole

1. Supra.
2. Document 984.
3. In a memorandum to Under Secretary of State Smith, dated Apr. 2, Merchant recommended that Smith reply orally to Cole, 1) assuring him of the Department’s great interest in the matter but explaining that its responsibilities were limited to negotiating on continental defense proposals, 2) informing him that present machinery for negotiation was effective, and 3) assuring him that Canada had cooperated fully. (742.5/4–254)