Edward Yardas

Edward Yardas (sometimes spelled Yardis by BSC and DEA personnel) was a Croatian-born journalist, veteran of the Spanish Civil War, and amputee residing in Toronto. Local communists like Yardas proved more effective recruiters than Savić's official mission. Yardas's application for Canadian citizenship was complicated by his membership in "subversive" organizations, per his RCMP file (CDYS00027). While the BSC did not want to "interfere in purely Canadian matters," the British Secret Service put on record that he was "a very loyal and valuable help, and...whatever his political persuasion may be, he is undoubtedly 100% pro-Canadian and anti-German." This advocacy was a "courtesy to a man who has been a very great help to us in our recruiting work amongst the Yugoslavs.” The BSC and External Affairs, however, agreed to let the matter “drop" when they encountered resistance from the RCMP and the Secretary of State, a now-defunct Cabinet Minister whose portfolio included "naturalization" (CDYS00029).

In 1943, Tommy Stone did provide the Department of the Secretary of State with a general sense of British/Canadian intelligence officers' special interest in Yardas's citizenship case (CDYS00040).