As you know, Cabinet Defence Committee has authorized the U.S. authorities to perform the necessary maintenance work at certain eastern airfields and weather stations that they are still using temporarily.

2. Recently, a request was received from the U.S. authorities for permission to use negro Engineer troops temporarily for this work, during the period May I.October 1, 1948, since it is not expected that white troops will be available.

3. The localities and numbers involved are as follows:

Officers Enlisted Men

4. The N.W.T. Administration, who are interested in the Eskimos at the first three of these stations, are agreeable to the proposal provided we request the U.S. Government to ensure that the personnel selected have no contagious diseases and that they have adequate medical supervision. The Directorate of the Department of National Health and Welfare concerned with the health of Eskimos have also been consulted. They are agreeable if the troops concerned are medically examined before they are sent to these posts and if they are periodically inspected afterwards.

5. Mr. Claxton, to whom the request has also been referred, has approved it except as regards Mingan. I assume that he feels that there might be criticism if negro troops were introduced to the lower St. Lawrence.

6. In view of the fact that it is desired to send the necessary personnel to the locations mentioned in the very near future, the U.S. authorities are anxious to have a decision as soon as possible. I should be grateful if you would let me know whether you are in agreement with Mr. Claxton that we may inform the U.S. Government that their proposal is authorized as far as River Clyde, Frobisher Bay, and Chimo are concerned but not as regards Mingan. If you approve this proposal, we will, of course, inform the U.S. authorities of the medical requirements referred to above. My own view is that the request not to use coloured troops at Mingan should also extend to Chimo, as both these places are in the province of Quebec, where the presence of U.S. coloured troops in peace-time might be misunderstood and misrepresented.⁴⁹ The danger would not apply to posts in the Northwest Territories, which is under Federal jurisdiction.

7. Attached is a mapt showing the stations in question.⁵⁰

P[EARSON]

⁴⁹Note marginale :/Marginal note:
I agree. St. L[aurent]

⁵⁰ Note marginale :/Marginal note:
I fully agree that the presence of coloured troops of U.S. in any part of Quebec would expose us to undesirable criticism especially in the light of present relations between us and the government of Quebec. St. L[aurent] 3-5-48