711.4112Anti-War/83: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Canada (Phillips)
52. Your 87, May 8, 3 p.m. It is not a question of an “original treaty” and a subsequent “separate agreement with the United States”. This Government has proposed a single multilateral treaty for signature in the first instance by the six Powers named in the preamble of the draft submitted with the identic notes of April 13. After the treaty comes into force it remains open for subsequent accession by all the other Powers of the world. (See Article III). The draft treaty describes the British Sovereign as “His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India”, which is his imperial title. The question as to when and how Canada should be bound by the treaty appears to me to be primarily one of Empire policy, and in such cases the United States is careful to negotiate through London, even when, as in the case of Ireland and Canada, independent diplomatic representatives are stationed at Washington. I have, of course, talked informally with Massey59 about the general subject, and I see no reason why you should not informally acquaint the Foreign Office with the fact that the United States would warmly welcome Canadian participation in the treaty at any time and in any manner that may be agreed upon by the Governments at London and Ottawa.
- Vincent Massey, Canadian Minister In the United States.↩