18 November 1953: External Affairs Response

In response to the Canadian Ambassador’s message, Pearson’s office immediately tries to identify the Canadian informant(s). In this draft response, the word “disturbed” is crossed out and replaced with “puzzled,” and it reads: “I am very puzzled over the references to a Canadian source.” A review of the available and relevant files does not suggest any likely source, and a request is made to the State Department to “endeavour to obtain for us as quickly as possible the name or names of the sources.” The message also states that the matter has already been brought up in Parliament and that Pearson is at a loss regarding a full response.