CDIW00600. 10 March 1955. Telegram No. 411 to Canadian High Commissioner in London from Secretary of State for External Affairs

This telegram contains an extract from a message written by Jules Leger to Norman Robertson. Leger stated that there was general agreement with the comments made by Dean in his first letter and ultimately agreed with the British proposal to limit the alerts system to the NATO area. However, there was confusion about Dean’s reference to overhauling NATO’s system of alerts. Leger then pointed out how the British working paper made no reference to agreed NATO procedures and questioned whether the permanent representatives in Paris might not be a more appropriate channel for approaching NATO countries with proposals for action. Leger concluded his message by agreeing with the procedural questions mentioned in Dean’s second letter. He agreed with the British line of approach and concurred it would be more appropriate for the British ambassador to approach the Americans before the Canadian ambassador.