Telegram no. 152 from SSEA to Paris

April 14th, 1953.  A telegram from the SSEA to the Canadian Ambassador in France detailed a conversation between a Soviet representative and his French colleague, discussing the March 19th interception.   As the Soviets believed the fighters were American, the SSEA asked the Ambassador to discuss with French, UK and US authorities as to whether the national identity of the pilots should be revealed.  While Pearson was not opposed to revealing that the pilots were Canadian, he expressed some hesitancy, stating “we doubt that its revelation would serve any useful purpose and might indeed complicate matters unnecessarily”.