Canada Approaches Nuclear Decision

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 10

Canada Approaches Nuclear Decision

[Specially written for the NJZ.PA. tty -J

MELVIN SUFRIN]

TORONTO, March 6. Canada appears to be approaching a moment of decision on the long-standing question of whether to accept nuclear arms for defence. Although the Prime Minister, Mr John Diefenbaker, has declined to commit himself categorically, there are several indications that the Government may make some sort of positive decision perhaps later this year.

One is that Canada is under increasing pressure from Washington to accept nuclear warheads under an agreement similar to that between the United States and Britain. This means that Americans would retain the custody of warheads stored on Canadian soil but that they could not be fired except by joint Canadian-American agreement.

Another reason is that bases for Bomarc anti-aircraft missiles in Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec are nearing the operational stage, and it has been admitted <rfficially that only nuclear warheads exist for these missiles. Thus it would be rather ridiculous for Canada to have two Bomarc bases ready, but useless because they would have nothing to fire in the event of an emergency. It has also been admitted that storage facilities for nuclear warheads have been constructed at the Northern Ontario Bomarc installation and that they are being built in Quebec. Mr Dicfenbaker has said that no agreement exists that would assure delivery of nuclear warheads either before or after an outbreak of war.

An American military authority has stated that warheads shipped to Canada after the start of a war would be useless. This means that Canada would have to agree to acquire them during peacetime if they were to make a useful contribution to her defence establishment. The reason for American pressure on Canada is that since these two central Canadian provinces dip down into the heart of the Eastern United States, two Bomarc bases represent important segments of the overall missile air defence system. Without them there would be serious gaps in protection for the industrial heart of the United States.

The Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, said in Washington last week that the United States is ready to share with Canada the control of firing of American nuclear weapons that might be stored in Canada. He emphasized, however, that Washington would

not yield custody of nuclear warheads.

Statements by the Prime Minister, Mr Diefenbaker, have not been so clearcut. During a political tour in Western Canada he said this country will not acquire nuclear warheads as long as disarmament is being

seriously discussed. At the same time he declared that if there is a nuclear war Canada will defend herself with nuclear weapons.

Under questioning later in Parliament, he said that nuclear arms will not come to Canada unless this country has “joint control” with the United States over warheads. This left unanswered the question of what he regards as joint control. He has not yet said whether conditions laid down by Mr Rusk would be acceptable to his Government, but it seems reasonable to assume that when the time comes for the Canadian Government decision, it will not let American restrictions stand in the way of acquiring nuclear weapons.

Opposition parties in Parliament have been pressing Mr Diefenbaker to make a decision, but he seems reluctant to annuonce a clear policy at least until after the General Election, due this year.

A recent public opinion poll showed that about half the Canadian people favour acquiring nuclear arms while one third were opposed, and the remainder undecided.

From a political standpoint, however, Mr Diefenbaker's Conservative Government would stand to gain little additional support by deciding to accept nuclear arms. The reasoning Is that few Canadians would switch votes to the Conservatives simply because they took a positive decision. On the other hand opponents of acquiring nuclear arms might be angry enough to vote against them. At one time Opposition Liberals, led by Mr Lester Pearson, declared that this was not the time for Canada to join the nuclear powers. Their view was that such a step would be harmful to Canada’s efforts to promote disarmament. Now, however, they seem

satisfied simply to demand that the Government make some decision one way or the other.

The small Socialist group in Parliament is flatly opposed to nuclear arming but its voice is not likely to influence the Government when it decides that the time has come to face up squarely to the issue.