Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

611.42/7–3053: Despatch

No. 975
The Ambassador in Canada (Stuart) to the Department of State¹

secret
No. 108

Ottawa, July 30, 1953.

• Ref: Department’s Circular Telegram 53 July 23²

• Subject: Canadian Attitudes Toward the United States

1. The Department’s circular telegram 53 of July 23rd asks specifically for our opinion regarding Canadian attitudes toward the United States (and the present Eisenhower administration).

2. There has been no evidence of Canadian mistrust of U.S. motives underlying our policy toward Russia. Canada shares without reservation our basic opposition to Communism and all that it stands for. Such differences as exist in this field are secondary and are associated principally with divergent views as to how Communism should be dealt with in the Far East. Under certain conditions, Canada would recognize Communist China, but we do not admit this possibility. In general, the Canadian Government, influenced by Pearson, is somewhat sympathetic with Nehru’s attitudes on Far Eastern questions.

3. Generally speaking, the Canadians have confidence in our intention to support our allies. Canada has contributed armed forces to Korea and to NATO and has undertaken a program of military assistance similar to ours. The scale of our economic and military aid is viewed in Canada as extraordinarily generous. In fixing their own contributions, the Canadian Government and Parliament have always calculated them carefully as a proportion of the American effort, usually at the rate of 10 per cent. The Canadians have always rejected any suggestion that their resources might be used to compensate for a reduction in American effort. If we for any reason reduce the amount of support to our Allies, the Canadian contribution will be automatically reduced accordingly.

4. The Canadians believe that the United States responsibility for leadership in the Western world is inescapable and that U.S. policy, domestic and foreign, should be framed to take into account our responsibilities as the leader in the Western world. In recent months there has been a feeling in Canada that we have not been wholly successful in this respect. Even in circles which should be familiar with our constitutional system, the difficulties of the Administration in coordinating the activities of the legislative and executive branches in carrying out the Administration policies, while recognized, are not wholly accepted. The great majority of Canadians do not understand the difference between our constitutional form of Government and their Parliamentary form.

5. For some time there has been criticism of the United States for what is regarded as our failure to assume leadership in developing a freely functioning world economy. With Canada heavily dependent upon world trade, this is of vital importance. Canadian officials emphasize that trade is an inseparable part of international relations, and that military strength is dependent upon sound economic conditions generally and healthy commerce in particular.

6. U.S. import restrictions, especially those contravening international obligations, have aroused strong resentment among Government officials in recent months. The latest note from the Canadian Government on this subject warns that further restrictions would have serious implications not only for trade but for other aspects of relationships between our two countries as well.

7. I do not know what is meant by the reference to “domestic political events”. The Canadians have free access to American newspaper comment on political developments in the United States and are nearly as well informed as our own people on such questions as our attitudes toward Communism, our China policy, and the Administration’s relations with Congress. Of course their viewpoint is more or less detached and they are inclined to regard our controversies on these questions as emotional and possibly dangerous should they result in impulsive international action.

8. The last paragraph of the Department’s telegram asks for a statement of what major factors should be considered in determining our lines of action during coming months in the light of the Canadian attitudes described above. The Canadians would like to see: (a) a clear-cut American determination to adopt and implement liberal trade policies, not only in the interest of Canadian trade but also, as a matter of principle, in support of freer multilateral trade; (b) some modification in our dogmatic attitudes toward Communist China, which Canadians feel could be more realistic; (c) further evidence that the United States will continue to consult the Canadians and take into account the Canadian viewpoint.

R. Douglass Stuart

1. Drafted by Bliss.
2. See footnote 1, Document 824.