The Canadian Delegation to the 14th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations has already taken the initiative of launching a draft resolution on the subject of atomic radiation. This resolution, which recognizes the universal concern that there be greater knowledge of the biological effects of radiation and of the extent of the possible hazard from man-made radiation, is designed to achieve this end through cooperation and consultation on the part of all states with such agencies as the World Meteorological Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and possibly the World Health Organization. It is envisaged that such cooperation would ensure the collation of world-wide data on fallout and radioactive content of soil and food products. The most important achievement would be larger scale analysis of samples with the purpose of studying the uptake of radioactive fission products in food chains throughout the world and determining the radioactive content of air, rainfall and food products throughout the world.

It is desirable as a concomitant to these efforts, which have scientific, humanitarian and political objectives, that Canada contribute its support in the best way it can. The experts believe that this can best be done in the field of analysis, where Canada could make a valuable contribution through an offer to analyse samples collected elsewhere in the world. For this purpose some expansion of Canadian research and laboratory facilities would be required, but in order to guard against undue expansion of these facilities Canada might make an offer of specific scope and conditional on the response of other countries. This offer might be made in the form of the attached draft Aide Mémoire to be circulated to other delegations at the United Nations.

The cost of carrying out such an offer can only be roughly estimated. The departments concerned have made the following calculations: If 150 collection stations in other countries were involved and if Canada were to handle 15% of the daily air and monthly rainwater samples from them, it would appear that capital costs should not exceed $50,000 for additional space and about $100,000 for equipment. The annual operating costs might approximate $60,000. These figures are based on the assumption that the volume of work could be handled by one professional person and four or five technicians. If food and soil samples were also to be analysed the numbers would be larger. For example, it has been estimated that an offer to analyse regularly food and soil as well as air and rainwater samples, taken in each case from about 20 to 25 sources, would double the above figures for capital outlay and operating costs, resulting in a gross capital outlay of about $300,000 and annual costs of about $120,000.

Recommendations

(a) That the Canadian Delegation to the United Nations be authorized to make through other delegations a conditional offer to their governments to conduct analyses in Canada as set forth in the attached draft Aide Mémoire.

(b) That, depending on the response to the offer, expenditures in connection with the carrying out of the offer be authorized, not to exceed $100,000 for additional space, $200,000 for equip-ment and $120,000 for annual operating costs.

(c) That the analytical programme be under the direction of the Department of National Health and Welfare.⁴⁰

H.C. GREEN

[PIÈCE JOINTE/ENCLOSURE]

Projet d'aide mémoire

Draft Aide-Mémoire

CONFIDENTIAL

[Ottawa], October 15, 1959

The Canadian Delegation recognizes the soundness of the programme of work which the Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation has set itself for the future and endorses that programme. The Delegation, however, considers that the information on radio-active fallout which has been made available to the Committee to date could be substantially enlarged and improved. The Delegation is accordingly proposing that steps be taken to ensure that information on this matter should be as comprehensive as possible and states members of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies should cooperate more closely so that appropriate samples from all parts of the world may be collected and analyzed on a basis which would ensure the comparability of the results.

As an earnest of its interest in this matter the Canadian Government is prepared to receive from other states samples of air, water, soil and food collected according to methods recommended by the Scientific Committee in consultation with the competent specialized agencies and to analyse such samples in the Canadian Government laboratories which handle Canada's domestic sampling programme. Subject to indications from other governments of their readiness to participate in such a cooperative programme of collection and analysis and as an initial offer the Canadian Government is prepared to receive and analyse samples of air, water, soil and food from 20 to 25 sampling stations in each case in other countries on a regular basis. Such analysis could begin within the space of a few months required to expand existing Canadian laboratory facilities and analytical staff following the agreement of the United Nations on such a programme. The Canadian Government further is prepared to undertake that the analytical procedures will be such as to ensure the comparability of results with those produced by other governments cooperating in a programme of this nature.

The Canadian Government considers that arrangements of the kind suggested will materially assist the Scientific Committee in its task and invites other governments to consider how they might participate in such a programme, either through the collection of samples according to agreed methods or through providing facilities for analysis.

⁴⁰Approuvé par le Cabinet le 17 octobre 1959, à condition que d'autres gouvernements se déclarent prêts à participer à un tel programme de coopération.
Approved by Cabinet on October 17, 1959 subject to indications from other governments of their readiness to participate in such a co-operative programme.