On January 28, 1947, Cabinet approved a programme for the joint establishment, by Canada and the United States, of 9 weather stations in the Arctic during the period 1947-1949. At the 30th† meeting of the Cabinet Defence Committee, on March 31, 1947, I reported and there were approved the plans made on February 26, 1947, with the United States, at the official level, for the carrying out of the 1947 portion of the programme.

2. At the 40th† meeting of the Committee, on January 8, 1948, there was submitted and approved, a memorandum from the Interdepartmental Meteorological Committee reporting the work completed during 1947. Briefly, it was indicated that joint weather stations had been established at Slidre Fjord (Eureka Sound), Ellesmere Island, and Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island. An automatic weather station, serviced occasionally by the R.C.M.P., was also set up at Dundas Harbour, Devon Island.

3. At a meeting of Canadian and United States officials held in Ottawa recently, it was agreed that arrangements for the carrying out of the 1948 programme in accordance with Cabinet's decision of January, 1947, would be as follows:

(a) initial establishment by air, after detailed reconnaissance, of weather stations on Prince Patrick Island and in the vicinity of Isaachsen Peninsula, Ellef Ringnes Island (this is now taking place);

(b) full establishment and supply of these two stations, together with re-supply of the stations at Slidre Fjord and Resolute Bay by sea during the coming summer;

(c) sea and air reconnaissance this summer to determine the most suitable locations for the establishment, in 1949, of a station in the vicinity of Winter Harbour, Melville Island, and one on the north-east coast of Ellesmere Island; if opportunity permits, some supplies might be landed at these two points;

(d) possible improvement of the air facilities at Slidre Fjord (especially in order to facilitate the air reconnaissance of North Ellesmere Island) by landing, next summer, aviation fuel, a hut and radar beacon to be provided temporarily by the United States;

(e) possible temporary provision of similar facilities by the United States for the Prince Patrick and Isaachsen air supply strips;

(f) grading and marking of an emergency air strip in the vicinity of Winter Harbour this summer, to facilitate flights between Resolute Bay and Prince Patrick Island, if time and terrain permit;

(g) division of responsibility between Canada and the United States during 1943 to remain as already approved - i.e. Canada providing the officers-in-charge, half the staff the pay and subsistence of the Canadian staff and permanent installations at stations and connected airstrips, with the United States assuming all other costs, including the provision of air and sea transport by the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

(h) up to 20 Canadian Service and scientific observers to accompany the U.S. Naval and Coast Guard Task Force entering the Arctic this summer in support of the programme;

(i) the State Department to request authorization for the Task Force, outlining the nature and scope of all intended activities of the ships and associated aircraft;

(j) all publicity regarding the 1948 programme and the Task Force to be subject to the approval of both Governments.

4. The U.S. request for authority for the Task Force (which, owing to a misunderstanding, first came forward through Naval channels) has now been received in the form of the attached letter from the State Department to the Canadian Embassy in Washington.t The request indicates that the Task Force:

(a) will consist of two ice-breakers and a transport; plans to spend August and September in the Canadian Arctic; and has the primary purpose of supporting the weather station programme by supplying existing stations and reconnoitering sites for the two 1949 stations;

(b) has the secondary purposes of personnel training, testing of ships and materials and minor hydrographic, meteorological and other scientific investigations.

5. In addition to meeting the Canadian and U.S. needs outlined in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, the Task Force is expected to be of assistance to Canada by performing such tasks as facilitating selection by the R.C.A.F. of a Loran site on North Ellesmere Island, transporting a complete, Canadian-manned ionospheric station to Resolute Bay, and carrying fuel for the R.C.A.F. to Pond Inlet, Baffin Island.

6. While the State Department's letter gives a good general picture of the plans and purposes of the Task Force, the State Department are being requested to provide further information on the following lines when plans have become more definite:

(a) the approximate number of U.S. personnel who will participate in the Task Force;

(b) a brief outline of the probable routes to be followed by the ships and associated aircraft in the Canadian Arctic;

(c) a summary of any activities (other than reconnaissance ahead of the ships) that associated aircraft plan to carry out;

(d) clarification of the term "personal training" if it involves military operations such as landings at sites not included in the weather programme;

(e) clarification of the nature and scope of the minor hydrographie, meteorological and other scientific investigations to be carried out;

(f) an outline of any significant changes in or additions to the expedition's plans

7. The U.S. authorities have, of course, undertaken to request the appropriate licenses for any civilian scientists whom they may wish to have attached temporarily to the weather stations or the Task Force and to make available to the Canadian Government all information about the Canadian Arctic obtained while carrying out the 1948 prograrnme and the related sea expedition.

8. Accordingly, the Cabinet Defence Committee is invited to:

(i) take note of the arrangements in hand for the 1948 Arctic weather station programme; and

(ii) give approval to the U.S. request for authorization of the U.S. Naval Task Force, on the understanding that the further information being requested of the State Department (see para. 6) will be reported to Cabinet Defence Committee in due course.¹¹

LB. PEARSON

¹¹Approuvé le 15 avril.
Approved on April 15,