305. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Embassy in Canada0
35. Following for immediate delivery to Prime Minister is letter from President. Advise date and time of delivery to Paris.
Begin: September 1, 1959
Dear John:
Since leaving Washington I learned of the decision of your Government to withhold its approval for the air defense exercise known as Sky Hawk which had been scheduled for early next month. As I am sure you have been told, I personally reviewed and approved the military training plans last month before the formal approval of the Canadian Government was requested. It seems to me of great importance to both of us that the defenses of our continent should be maintained in good order. The purpose of exercises such as Sky Hawk is to give ourselves realistic assurance on this score. I do not myself see anything provocative in such a defensive exercise, and from the point of view of my coming talks with Mr. Khrushchev, they should have no adverse effect. Indeed, the knowledge on his part and ours that we are determined and able to resist an attack certainly tends to provide an essential foundation for serious and, I hope, productive discussions.
I do hope, therefore, that you will again consider your decision in the light of these thoughts.
With warm regard, Sincerely, Ike.”
Observe Presidential Handling.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Top Secret; Presidential Handling. Repeated to the Department of State as Cahto 8, which is the source text.↩