611.4231/2067: Telegram

The Minister in Canada (Armour) to the Secretary of State

103. Department’s telegram No. 114, November 17, 11 a.m. The following statement to the press will be given out at 6:00 p.m. by the Prime Minister for publication in the morning newspapers of November 19:

“The Prime Minister announced today that negotiations are contemplated for the conclusion of a trade agreement between Canada and the United States of America. A similar statement is being made public in Washington by the Secretary of State. This announcement marks a definite and well recognized step in United States procedure in the negotiation of trade agreements.

In making this announcement, the Prime Minister said: ‘In August last, the Canadian Government approached the Government of the United States with a view to extending and revising the trade agreement concluded between them in 1935. Since then, exploratory conversations have been proceeding which have resulted in today’s announcement regarding the negotiation of a new agreement which will, we hope, be on as broad and comprehensive a basis as possible.’”

Armour
[Page 168]

[For text of preliminary announcement of the contemplated trade agreement negotiations with Canada, issued by the Department of State November 19, 1937, see Department of State, Press Releases, November 20, 1937, page 388.]