Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

302. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

July 28, 1959.

SUBJECT

• Question of Soviet Bloc Ships Using St. Lawrence Seaway

PARTICIPANTS

• A.E. Ritchie, Chargé d’Affaires, Canadian Embassy
• A.F. Broadbridge, First Secretary, Canadian Embassy
• Ivan B. White, EUR
• Delmar Carlson, BNA
• Messrs. Ritchie and Broadbridge called at the Department at Mr. White’s request to discuss the pending question of any future use of the St. Lawrence Seaway by Soviet Bloc ships.

Mr. White referred to the Secretary’s conversation with Prime Minister Diefenbaker and External Affairs Minister Green in Ottawa on July 11 concerning this problem.¹ Mr. White then read aloud a memorandum of that particular conversation. (Among the highlights of the memorandum was External Affairs Minister Green’s statement that the Canadian Government was concerned with the problem of reaching agreement with the United States on the security measures to be applied to Soviet vessels using the Seaway and that the Canadian Government did not wish to apply discriminatory measures against ships of one nation. The Secretary had replied that he was certain that the difficulty could be planed down by discussion between officials of the two countries.)

Mr. White stated that we are becoming concerned over the lack of consultation on this problem. He pointed out that the Department could envisage a problem arising almost overnight if a Soviet vessel should suddenly appear. He added that other U.S. agencies, which are particularly concerned with security matters and not subject to instructions from the Department of State, could become extremely concerned in the event of such a case and the possibility existed for development of a real disagreement between the two countries. Mr. White said that we were very interested in having officials of the two Governments, including security officials, meet soon to discuss the general problem.

Mr. Ritchie stated that the view which External Affairs Minister Green had expressed to the Secretary was not an unconsidered one. Canadian security officials have examined all the aspects of the situation, Mr. Ritchie said, and neither they nor External Affairs Minister Green are unmindful of the security risks which could occur through the admission of Soviet Bloc ships. Mr. Ritchie added that External Affairs Minister Green was fully informed of the situation when he made the statement to the Secretary. Mr. Ritchie also stated that while cognizant of security aspects the External Affairs Minister and other officials believed that political and commercial considerations were important. The Canadian Government, therefore, as Mr. Green had pointed out, did not feel that it could contemplate discrimination against ships of one country. Mr. Ritchie said that it was not entirely clear as to whether the Canadian position was opposed to discrimination of any kind or whether the position was that only open discrimination was not favored. He explained that, for example, it might be that a Customs official would board vessels of non-communist origin but that in the case of Soviet ships the Customs officer would not be really from Customs. In short, Mr. Ritchie did not know whether the Canadian Government was opposed to what he termed “a kind of covert discrimination.”

Mr. White commented that he did not know whether “discrimination” was the right word, but he pointed out that unless United States officials believed that the Great Lakes areas was being secured, they would not permit access to Soviet Bloc vessels. Therefore, he thought it was very important to hold discussions between Canadian and United States officials.

Mr. Ritchie questioned the value of having discussions held by technicians or security experts. It was explained to Mr. Ritchie that the Department did not intend to confine discussions to technicians and security experts but to include other officials and to discuss all aspects of the problem. Mr. Ritchie again mentioned that Canadian security officials had already fully considered security aspects. He also observed that the Canadian Government had followed a non-discriminatory policy toward Soviet ships calling at Vancouver, Montreal and other ports.

In reply Mr. White stated that the point really is that the concurrence of the two countries is necessary for any access to the Lakes. After a pause for reflection, Mr. Ritchie agreed with this observation and added that as a matter of speculation perhaps each country would have to take its own security measures and follow its own particular policy.

Mr. White pointed out that such a situation could come about but this possibility was another reason for the need to hold discussions. Mr. Ritchie stated that he would report the conversation to his Government but that any discussions would have to take place within the framework of External Affairs Minister Green’s statement to the effect that the Canadian Government’s policy was to oppose discrimination, at least any open discrimination, against Soviet Bloc ships.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.42321-SL/7–2659. Secret. Drafted by Carlson.
1. See Document 301.