CANADA: Starfighters for NATO

Confronted with any number of good causes to spend money on, appalled by the swift obsolescence of military hardware, even faintly hoping that a cold war thaw might resolve the question. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker’s government delayed for months a $350 million decision: whether to replace the outmoded Sabre day fighters flown by eight of Canada’s twelve NATO squadrons in Europe. Ottawa’s long irresolution spurred a mild rash of public and private talk that Canada should spend the money on aid to underdeveloped nations instead—to the extent that a discomfited Diefenbaker, while collecting an honorary degree at Michigan State last month, felt compelled to reaffirm unwavering support for NATO.

Last week his Tory government made good his word by announcing that it will order up to 250 Lockheed F-104G Starfighters, to be made under license in Canada. The Starfighter holds both the world’s official speed (1,404 m.p.h.) and airplane altitude (91,249 ft.) records, fills the bill for a ground-attack reconnaissance fighter urged on the Canadian Cabinet by NATO’s General Lauds Norstad when he visited Ottawa in May. Thus Canada remains four-square among the substantial military supporters of NATO.