501.BB–Korea/12–3147
The Canadian Prime Minister (MacKenzie King) to the American Ambassador in Canada (Atherton)9
My Dear Ambassador: I duly received your letter of yesterday to which was attached the text of the communication from the Acting Secretary of State10 referred to in the message you brought to me from the President on Saturday night.11
On receipt of your letter I immediately read the text of this communication to Mr. Saint Laurent, the Secretary of State for External Affairs; Mr. Pearson, the Under Secretary, was present with us at the time.
Mr. Saint Laurent and I were both of the opinion that the subject matter was one which, for many reasons, it would be preferable to have considered in personal conference. We have, therefore, asked Mr. Pearson to proceed to Washington to have informal conversations with the Under Secretary of State and if thought desirable, with the President. If, thereafter, it should be found necessary to a complete understanding of our position to have the matter further dealt with by a member of our Government, on hearing from Mr. Pearson to this effect, Mr. Saint Laurent, as Secretary of State for External Affairs, will leave for Washington.
Immediately following the consideration given the matter yesterday morning by Mr. Saint Laurent and myself Mr. Pearson, I understand, informed you of this intended action by way of reply to your letter and acknowledgment of its enclosure. I have felt, however, that I should make in writing this further reply.
Having understood from you that in view of our conversation together at the time, a reply in writing from myself would not be expected to the message you brought me from the President, I have governed myself accordingly.
- Notation by the Chief of the Division of British Commonwealth Affairs (Wailes): “The following letter from the Canadian Prime Minister was dictated to us by Ambassador Atherton at 1:00 p.m., December 31, 1947.”↩
- For text of latter, dated December 30, see p. 883.↩
- See memorandum of December 27, p. 880.↩