Got the scoop: with reference to my post U.S. wanted to gas Aussies? from yesterday, here are the pertinent documents from the Australian National Archives.
- United States Projects – Chemical Warfare – Testing in Australia
- Chemical Warfare Testing Sites – Report by Joint Australia/U.S. Survey Team of Visit to Iron Range Maralinga to Investigate Suitability of Area
Pretty interesting stuff. It seems one of the carrots the U.S. team dangled was inclusion into what we know refer to as “Four Eyes,” the quadripartite security/intelligence agreement between the U.S., Britain, Canada, and Australia.
Well, the Aussies turned down the proposal to spray G and V agents in a euphemistic “micro-meteorological survey” but they got into the club anyway.
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Filed under: chemical weapons, military
This really is a fascinating set of documents, with the involvement of McNamara and Rusk during the Nam conflict. Pity our govt isn’t as open about old DPG stories. I would suggest that your one statement is not quite accurate – if I read this correctly, the ABCA Quadripartate agreement was already in effect, and the US govt msg was “you know, this request for joint testing is in line with the ABCA… so how about it, partner?”
I have to look at these further, but I think that there were two tests proposed – a met test using simulants and a “toxic” test to determine agent characteristics. I would also suggest that the AUS papers have it wrong saying that the plan was to “test CB pro gear” by spraying the AUS troops. I think the 70 people mentioned in the survey team report were support personnel who would be conducting the test, not test subjects per say.
Still, fascinating stuff. Will have to dig around for more background data (in particular the Chem Corps generals mentioned).
Heh – I didn’t have time to read them in depth this morning but I figured I could count on you to go through it in painstaking detail before lunch! I look forward to your thorough analysis, which I’m sure will be forthcoming
[...] in this area and I would like to thank Bugs n’ Gas Gal for posting links to several rather large bundles of declassified documents in the Australian National [...]