MEETING WITH CANADIAN MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE GILLES LAMONTAGNE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001403560039-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: February 5, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

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0 ill! F10 LEN IT L
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON,D.C. 20301
IKTERNATtONAL
SECURITY AFFAIRS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
I D1E-1)6
In reply refer to:
I-043L0/81
SUBJECT: Meeting with Canadian Minister of National Defense
Gilles Lamontagne -
TIME AND PLACE: Thursday, S February 1981, 1400 Hrs Rm 3E912'
PARTICIPANTS:
Secretary of Defense
Casper Weinberger
Deputy Secretary Frank Carlucci
(Acting) Under Secretary-
Frank Kra.mer
Special Assistant Bing West
Director, EUR $ NATO Affairs
MGen Richard Bowman;;:USAF
Minister of National Defense
J. Gilles Lamontagne
Minister, Canadian,. Embassy,
rv
= Gilles Mathieu
Canadian Forces Military Attache,
=BGen J.J. Barrett
Executive Assistant to''the MOD
BGen Lacroix (Retired)
Military Assistant BGen Carl Smith
Assistant.for Canada, ISA,
LTC- Donald L. Parsons, USA
1. (C) North American Air Defense_'.
(C)=Min ester Lamontagne said that- the North American Air
yDefense Master Plan under preparation by- the US was-of -
great importance to Canada and suggested that the Canadians
would like'to become more involved in its development.
Secretary Weinberger said that budget constraint had led
Secretary. Brown to make a decision to reduce the number
of DEW line sites but that the matter _was under review by
the new team and that we would -consult with the Canadians
on the Master Plan. General Bowman-indicated that the USAF
has only completed its draft Air Defense Master Plan two
days ago and that OSD would try to provide it to the-,
Canadians'for their review very soon. Minister Lamontagne
OSD Review completed
CLASSIFIED BY: DIR, EUR-NATO AFFAIRS
DECLASSIFY: 6 FEB 1987
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. i t , -i' E 1 - U
pointed out that closure of DEW Line Sites would have a severe
impact on the local civilian economy in the neighborhood of the
sites. Mr. Weinberger responded that joint. consultations would
take place e ore any closure action began, and that he understood
the problem since the US had many military installations that might
be closed if it were not for the impact on the local economies.
2. (U) Defense Development and Defense Production Sharing Arrangements
CC)" Minister Lamontagne emphasized that Canadian-US economic
cooperation in the defense area was very import-ant to Canada, and
said that it would be helpful if President Reagan, when he visits
Canada, would publicly reaffirm the Defense Development and Defense
Production Sharing Agreements. Secretary Weinberger endorsed the
need for US-Canada economic cooperation in the defense area and in-
dicated he would recommend that the President reaffirm the Agreement
when he visits Canada.
3. (U) Canadian CF-18
(C) Minister Lamontagne comm ented that the US and Canadian
press have reported possible problems with the aircraft and although
he personally discounts these reports'it would be helpful if he could
comment publicly in Canada that he received the assurances of the
Secretary of Defense that the Program was in good shape.-Secretary
Weinberger responded yes, that it was in DoD's best interest that the
Cana cans e_satisfied with the CF18 development and that the DoD was
closely following the program to insure that it meets its goals. So
far as he knew, there were no problems with the program.
4. (C) Canadian Commitment to NATO
(C) Minister Lamontagne reiterated his statement on the import-
ance of Canada's commitment to NATO and mentioned the many moderniza-
tion programs underway including the Maritime aircraft, new tanks,
and the F-18. He said that Canada would meet its 3% real growth
in defense spending this.year even though most other spending would
be cut. Secretary Weinberger said that it was clear that we would
all have to do more to insure adequate defense. He said that while
he did not favor fixed commitments, that was because sometimes they
were too low and sometimes too high. The 3% goal was now on the low
side. The Soviet threat was growing far beyond what would be needed
for defensive purposes, and the US had not done as much as it should
in recent years. The US intended to reach a 6%/7% increase this year.
Mr. Carlucci stated that the DoDwas considering a 10% to 15%
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real growth in the FY 81 and FY 82 budgets. Secretary
Weinberger said that the US did not want to be provocative
but neither did it want to be in a weak position where we
were likely to be provoked. Minister Lamontane strongly
agreed;
5. (C) Neutron Bomb
(C) Minister Lamontagne expressed the'* view that as a non-
nuclear nation Cana ians were generally uncomfortable with
discussions concerning Neutron bombs; he personally understood
the Secretary's recent press comment on this subject but
some of the other members of the Cabinet were quite nervous.
Secretary Weinberger responded by stating that there are always
-
ris s w en respon zng to reporters. He had stated his view-
that the Enhanced Radiation Weapon would strengthen Alliance
- -
tactical nuclear capabilities, but he had also said that
there would be no change in policy without consultations with
Allies. Minister Lamontagne said that he had no problem with
the Secretary's reply to the press.'
6. (U) Secretary Weinberger's Visit'to' Canada
(U) Minister Lamontagne closed by .extending an invitation
to Secretary Weinberg er to visit Ottawa in the near future.
Secretary {Jeinber er said that he would be very pleased to
do so and indicated that the staff could work out the details.
-Prepared bylC~l,"~-
Donal L. Parsons
LTC, USA
Richa C. Bowman
Major General, USAF
Director, European
& NATO Affairs
Distribution:
SecDe
DepSecDef
The Sp Asst
USD (p )
ASD/ISA
PTJASD/ISA
E
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XO
Approved by: /&e.4..--".-1
R&C (*2)
CCS(2)
DUSD (PP)
Dept of the Air Force
Dept of State
USPRF1E
AYET'B Ottawa
JCS (J- S)
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? THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
His Excellency J. Gilles Lamontagne
Minister of National Defence
Department of National Defence
Ottawa, Ontario KIA OK 2
Canada
Dear Colleague:
I was pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with
you last month, and to share your views on issues of mutual
concern to our common defense. Your invitation at that time
to meet again in Ottawa was most welcome and I accept it with
pleasure.
In my view, it would be worthwhile to have such a meeting
before we attend the DPC Ministerials in Brussels this May. I
shall be available on the 15th of April and hope that the date
would be convenient to you. If this is acceptable, I suggest
that our staffs make the necessary arrangements.
In the meantime, I would take this opportunity to respond
to some of your expressed concerns dealing with the broad issue
of North American Air Defense. With regard to the DEW Line,
we have amended our FY 82 defense budget to include the $19.0
million required for the full 31 site operation through FY 82.
This action should provide ample time for full consultation on
the future of this system. As you requested, we have received
CINC NORAD's views on this matter and have attached his comments
for your information and review. The development of our draft 3
text of-the North American Air Defense Master Plan is progressing
and should be available to your staff prior to our meeting in
April. I look forward to visiting Ottawa.
Sincerely,
Attachments
a/s
Lr+Ci?f.'~i?iED THEN ATTAACVUYIE14TS
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