Last year several joint projects were initiated in Canadian territory which were of importance for both defence and civilian purposes.

2. The current year's developments in connection with these projects are summarized below:

(a) Weather Station Programme

In the Arctic Archipelago, four weather stations are being operated jointly by the United States and Canada, two of which were established last year (Resolute and Eureka Sound) and two this spring (Ellef Rignes Island and Prince Patrick Island). This summer reconnaissance is being conducted for the sites of two more stations, one on North Ellesmere Island and another in the vicinity of Winter Harbour, Melville Island.

Two weather stations in the northeastern chain, Clyde River on Baffm Island and Mecatina, Quebec, are now being taken over from the United States Air Force by the Department of Transport, and this transfer will be completed next month. Plans provide that the station at Indian House Lake presently operated by the U.S.A.F. will be taken over by Canada in 1949.

A new weather station in northern Quebec will be in full operation this month and arrangements for the establishment of another are near completion. Operations at two stations on the Labrador Coast are being expanded to meet current requirements.

(b) Joint Experimental Station, Churchill This station has operated for two winters as a Canadian-U.S. experimental and training establishment. At present a construction programme is underway to provide additional accommodation (capacity 825) including some married quarters. Next winter platoon training will be carried out and cold weather tests will be continued on clothing, equipment, general and technical stores, and railway equipment. U.S. participation in these tests will involve the employment of about 250 men.

(c)Mapping and Charting Programme

The Royal Canadian Air Force, who are responsible for air photography in connection with the mapping and charting programme, have taken steps to speed up their operations by the acquisition of new equipment and training of personnel.

So far this year they have completed some 271,000 square miles of air photography required for medium and large scale maps and some 700,000 square miles of the reconnaissance photography suitable for small scale aeronautical charts. Field surveys, which are necessary before effective use can be made of this photography, have been initiated and it is anticipated that by next year the rate of photography and mapping will conform to programme requirements.

Complementary to this regular programme, the U.S. Air Force were authorized to carry out some air photography operations in the Canadian Archipelago and Newfoundland waters.

(d) Loran Programme The experimental chain of five stations is now being used to train operators and technicians. It is scheduled to cease operations as a chain next October but three sites (Hamlin, Gimli and Regina) are to be retained temporarily for training purposes.

The main chain in northern Canada is now ready to undergo preliminary testing before it is declared operational. A team composed of Canadian and U.S. Air Force personnel is conducting the preliminary checking, using specially equipped aircraft (one B-29, one C-54 and one C-47). The data is being analysed by a civil agency and it is anticipated that the chain will be declared operative by November next.

A joint Canadian and U.S. Air Force survey party is now reconnoitring in northeastern Canada for possible sites to be used in extending the LF Loran system. The siting and surveying of the sites is being done by two separate parties. The "siting party" performs air reconnaissance and subsequent preliminary ground reconnaissance, while the "survey party" follows up with a detailed survey of the sites selected, including mapping, core boring, etc. The air reconnaissance is about complete and surveys of the various sites will be advanced.

3. About 1,000 U.S. Service and civilian personnel are employed in these and other similar projects in Canada.

³⁹La note fut préparée pour la visite de Forrestal.
The memorandum was prepared for Forrestal's visit.