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Exchange of Notes (May 18, June 28 and 29, 1965) between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America concerning the Continuing Operation in Canada of Mobile Seismic Observatories until June 30, 1968 (Project Vela Uniform) [1965] CATSer 4 (28 June 1965)

E103809 - CTS 1965 No. 10

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE CONTINUING OPERATION IN CANADA OF MOBILE SEISMIC OBSERVATORIES UNTIL JUNE 30, 1968 (Project VELA UNIFORM)

I

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada to the Secretary of State for External Affairs

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

No. 232

The Ambassador of the United States of America presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and has the honor to refer to the Department of External Affairs' Note No. 3 of January 20, 1965, authorizing the United States Government to operate mobile seismic observatories in Canada until June 30, 1965 in connection with its program of seismic research known as Project VELA UNIFORM.

The Government of the United States considers it highly desirable to continue this co-operative program of observations in Canada for a further period and the Ambassador therefore proposes that the present authorization be extended for a period of three years, under the same conditions as heretofore.

The purpose of Project VELA UNIFORM continues to be research and development relative to the detection and identification of seismic events, with particular reference to underground nuclear explosions. As a consequence of observations made thus far in Canada and elsewhere, a better understanding has been attained of the nature of earthquakes, of the properties of the earth's crust and upper mantle and of the effect of various types of earth formation on the efficiency of seismic waves generated by underground nuclear explosions.

Important work remains to be done to improve the capability to distinguish between earthquake signals and those of an underground explosion. Several different types of identification criteria are under study, and the proposed further operation of mobile observatories in Canada is expected to contribute to this and other aspects of the project. Data recorded in Canada under this program will be made available to the Government of Canada if desired, and the results of the research program will be published in unclassified form.

If the foregoing meets with the approval of the Government of Canada the Ambassador has the further honor to propose that this note and the Secretary of State for External Affairs' reply thereto shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments effective the date of that reply.

W. W. B.

Embassy of the United States of America,
OTTAWA, May 18, 1965

II

The Secretary of State for External Affairs to the Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

No. 72

The Secretary of State for External Affairs presents his compliments to the Ambassador of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the Ambassador's Note No. 232 of May 18, 1965 proposing the conclusion of an agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada concerning co-operation in seismic observations between the two countries.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs wishes to inform the Ambassador that the proposal of the United States Government, set out in the Ambassador's note, to continue to locate a number of mobile seismic stations in Canada for a period of three years is acceptable to the Government of Canada on the understanding that:

(a) the period covered by this authority will extend from July 1, 1965 to June 30, 1968;

(b) the number and location of mobile observatories, the exchange of scientific data and other details will be agreed upon between the Defence Research Board (DRB) for Canada and the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) for the United States; and

(c) in accordance with the practice following in the past, equipment imported into Canada for this purpose will be returned to the United States after the research has been completed.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs notes that the results of the Research Program will be published in unclassified form.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs concurs in the proposal of the Ambassador of the United States of America that his note and this reply shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments on this subject, effective this date.

P. M.

OTTAWA, June 28, 1965

III

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada to the Secretary of State for External Affairs

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

No. 287

The Ambassador of the United States of America presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and has the honor to refer to his Note No. 232 of May 18, 1965 and to the reply note of the Secretary of State No. 72 of June 28, 1965 concerning the seismic research program known as Project VELA UNIFORM.

The Secretary of State in his note referred to above states that the Canadian Government agrees to the continued location of a number of mobile seismic stations in Canada for a period of three years as requested by the Government of the United States on the understanding that:

(a) the period covered by this authority will extend from July 1, 1965 to June 30, 1968;

(b) the number and location of mobile observatories, the exchange of scientific data and other details will be agreed upon between the Defence Research Board (DRB) for Canada and the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) for the United States; and

(c) in accordance with the practice following in the past, equipment imported into Canada for this purpose will be returned to the United States after the research has been completed.

The Ambassador of the United States has the further honor to inform the Secretary of State that the Government of the United States agrees with the above understandings of the Canadian Government. Accordingly, this note together with the Ambassador's note of May 18, 1965 and the Secretary of State's note of June 28, 1965, referred to above, shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments regarding this matter. This agreement is effective on the date of the note of the Secretary of State dated June 28, 1965.

J. W. S.

Embassy of the United States of America,
OTTAWA, June 29, 1965