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Documents relatifs aux relations extérieures du Canada
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Volume #18 - 688. | |
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CHAPITRE VIII RELATIONS AVEC LES ÉTATS UNIS | |
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PREMIÈRE PARTIE QUESTIONS DE DÉFENSE | |
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SECTION
B RÉSEAU D'ÉCRANS DE RADAR (PINETREE) | |
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688. |
DEA/50210-40 |
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Note du sous-secrétaire d'État aux Affaires extérieures pour le secrétaire d'État aux Affaires extérieures | |
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SECRET |
Ottawa,
le 19 janvier 1952 |
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RADAR DEFENCE SYSTEM | |
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In January, 1951, the Permanent Joint Board on Defence recommended the establishment of a radar defence system involving the construction of 31 stations in Canada. It was agreed that the cost should be shared by Canada and the United States on a ratio of approximately 1 to 2. By the terms of the Recommendation, it was provided that Canada might take over the operation of additional stations in the chain beyond its one-third share. Canada, therefore, has the right to operate all the radar stations on Canadian soil. When the system comes into operation later this year, Canada plans to man 13 stations which are, because of the nature of the stations, 4 more than Canada's one-third share. The United States will reimburse Canada for the operation of these 4 stations. Since the costs of operating the whole system are to be shared on a ratio basis, it would cost Canada about the same amount of money to man 30 stations as it does to man 13. From 120 to 200 men are needed on each station. When the radar system was planned, the RCAF indicated an intention to man additional stations as soon as operators could be trained. From the political viewpoint it seems desirable that Canada should operate as many of the stations as possible. Although stations designed almost entirely for the protection of the U.S. bases in Newfoundland might best be manned by U.S. operators, it seems theoretically desirable that all other stations should be manned by Canada. Not only would Canadian manning limit the number of exclusively U.S. installations on Canadian soil but it would put us in a better position in discussions with the United States on command in the air defence of North America. We understand from the RCAF that National Defence has now no plans for taking over additional stations in the network for at least the next two years. No provision is being made to train additional operators for the system. Responsible officers in National Defence have suggested that the possibility of Canada wanting additional stations is "both academic and remote." Since the estimates for the next fiscal year are now fairly definite, and since the RCAF manpower ceiling makes the commitment of additional radar operators and supporting staff difficult, perhaps we might postpone raising the issue with National Defence. This is, however, a matter which we might bear in mind when future manpower requirements are being considered. A.D.P. H[EENEY] | |
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