Canadian Desk files, lot 69 D 302, “Canada—Continental Defense 1953–1955”
No. 989
The Chairman of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Atomic Energy (Cole) to the Secretary of Defense
(Wilson)
Dear Mr. Secretary: Being strongly of the opinion that our country and Canada must develop a common response to the common threat of enemy nuclear attack against the North American continent, I recently suggested in a public speech1 that we enter into a mutual continental defense pact with Canada, under the authority of the United Nations, which would represent a continental defense equivalent of the NATO agreement.
My thought was that such a pact would establish a North American Continental Defense Organization, to which Army, Navy, and Air Force units from our two nations with continental defense responsibilities [Page 2124] would be assigned in a manner akin to the land, sea, and air forces now reporting to SHAPE headquarters. My further thought was that such an organization would be headed by a Supreme Commander, whose responsibility and authority in the field of continental defense would parallel those now exercised by General Gruenther in his capacity of Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Europe.
In other words, it is my conviction that an adequate continental defense for our two nations requires a measure of cooperation and unity of organization extending well beyond that envisaged under existing arrangements.
Without such unity of command, I frankly do not believe our two countries can exploit all possibilities for creating an effective continental defense. I believe this applies particularly to those programs required not only to detect, but also to intercept and repel, approaching aerial formations long before they reach the cities of Canada or the United States.
I will be most appreciative if you could send me a statement on your views concerning the desirability, from the standpoint of the Department of Defense, of entering into a pact and creating such an organization as I have outlined above.
I know I will profit greatly from your considered judgment on this matter.
Sincerely yours,
- A brief comment on this speech, made at Colgate University on Apr. 29, is in the New York Times, Apr. 30, 1954.↩