Dear Mr. Stuart,

I should like to refer to the discussions which have been going on for some time between officers of your Embassy and the Department of External Affairs concerning the proposed establishment by the United States armed forces of low-power television broadcasting stations at the U.S. Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland; at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, near Stephenville, Newfoundland; and at Goose Air Force Base, Goose Bay, Newfoundland.⁸⁹ You will recall that when I discussed this proposal with you recently I said that I would send you a letter setting out what the Canadian Government was prepared to do by way of meeting this request.

As you know, the laws of Canada do not permit the granting of a radio station licence to persons who are not British subjects, except where such stations are necessary to the carrying out of defence arrangements. Nevertheless the Canadian Government views sympathetically the desire of the United States authorities to provide television for their personnel at relatively isolated bases beyond the range of Canadian stations. To meet the situation, it would be prepared to permit the United States armed forces to install television broadcasting stations at Harmon and Goose Air Force Bases under the direct supervision and control of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which would itself hold the licences and provide up to one-third of the broadcast material. In order to conform with the broadcasting policy of the Canadian Government, and because the broadcasts would be available to a considerable number of Canadian citizens, it is considered essential that the stations should include a reasonable proportion of Canadian material in their broadcasts.

The operation of the stations at Harmon and Goose Bay Air Force Bases would be authorized for an initial period of five years, but might be closed at any time thereafter in the event of the establishment of a Canadian station providing television coverage.

The Canadian Government regrets that it cannot permit the establishment of a television station at Argentia. It is understood, however, that the licensee of the commercial television station at St. John's is anxious to ensure coverage at the Base area. He has had indications that the signal is satisfactory, but has also said if the need for further improvement develops he would apply for permission to install some form of booster or satellite especially to strengthen the signal around the Base area. The Canadian authorities would regard such an application favourably if such installation is found necessary.

If the conditions, as described above, under which the Canadian Government is prepared to authorize the establishment of television stations at Harmon and Goose Bay, are acceptable to the United States authorities, I propose that before any action is taken toward the establishment of the stations your Embassy should arrange through the Department of External Affairs to have the officers concerned with setting up the stations discuss the detailed arrangements, including the question of operators, with the appropriate Canadian officials.

As you are no doubt aware, the United States armed forces are operating sound radio broadcasting stations at Harmon, Argentia, and Pepperrell Bases. These stations were established during the Second World War and the Canadian Government has permitted their continued operation on an unlicensed basis since Newfoundland entered Confederation. It seems to us that the establishment of the new television stations which are proposed will inevitably draw attention to these unlicensed radio stations. As I believe you know, the Canadian Government would like to see the operation of these radio stations at the Leased Bases discontinued. Yours sincerely,

L.B. PEARSON