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

742.5/11–2254

No. 999
The Department of State Member on the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (Nugent) to the Canadian Counselor of Embassy (Mayer)

secret

Washington, November 22, 1954.

Dear Ernest: I am enclosing one copy of a joint press release on the Distant Early Warning line which was issued November 19 at 12 noon.¹

You undoubtedly have this in hand already and are more interested in the text of the Canadian note on which the press release is based. This is also enclosed—No. 791 of November 16.² You will note that, pending the conclusion of a more formal agreement, the United States Government is able to proceed with the preliminary procurement and placement of materials for the line. There is, furthermore, a statement of the Canadian Government’s intention to determine in the near future the nature and extent of its participation in the DEW line’s construction. Presumably, this participation will be financial, even though the Canadian budgetary outlook is reported to be rather tight. The Canadian Government, of course, is reserving the right to participate in the actual manning and operation of the line when completed.

This time the Defense Department gave us very good service in clearing the text of the press release. Inasmuch as the principles had already been approved, it was not necessary to put the latest release through the Joint Chiefs. The Canadians gave us the suggested release text on November 15 and it was ready to roll by the 18th. I was so busy in this connection that this is the first opportunity to give the Embassy some details.

We are now working on the text of a formal agreement, the main hitch lying in finding a suitable wording for the section on purchases of electronic equipment. There is no real difference of views; everyone knows how the matter will work out in practice; but both sides are concerned about public reaction in the event the terms are ever publicized. The Canadians want preference to be given to electronic equipment of Canadian manufacturers, insofar as practicable. We prefer to have the wording center on equal consideration. However, we are confident that suitable compromise language can be worked out.³

Sincerely yours,

Julian

1. The release is printed in Department of State Bulletin, Nov. 29, 1954, p. 813.
2. Not printed. (742.5/11–2254)
3. Pending negotiation of a formal agreement, Murphy acknowledged receipt of Note No. 791 in a letter to Heeney dated Dec. 13. Murphy signed for the Secretary of State. (742.5/11–1654)