COMBINED DEFENCE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1946, Page 5

COMBINED DEFENCE

U.S. PROFOSAL TO CAN AUA ! NEW YORK, May 18. ! United States has proposed to Ganada 1 an unprecedented defence agreenient under which the two countries would coordinate cerfain branches '.of their i armed forces for the protection of N,orth Am.erica and particuiarly for th,e defence of the American Arctie frontier. This is reported "by the New York Times' Waslungton correspondent who adds that 'it is understood the proposal, if accepted, would involVe the standardisation of many forms of equipment in the armed forces of the twp countries, coordination of United -States i and Canadian •' 'training methods, anct i military organisation, in addition to the | joint erection of staffing and defence; weather stations in the Gontinentai.i Arctic zone. It is emphasised in v^ash- l ington that the proposed understanding would not he a military alliance and 1 wo,uld not involve political commitments "by either country and would not disturb Canada's relations with tne British Commonwealth or involve United States in any commitments Ganada might make in the future to the Commonwealth. The agreement would not take precedence over or any way violate the ohligations of the two countries to United Nations. Its purpose was not to weaken the British Commonwealth hut strengthen the defence of the North Anierican continent and hack ; up United Nations' military structure 1 through the kind of agreement the United. Nations Charter specificall.y ' authorises.