INVITATION TO DR. ADENAUER TO VISIT OTTAWA

Dr. Adenauer, probably accompanied by Professor Hallstein, the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, is expected to arrive in Washington on April 7 and to remain there until April 9. There is a possibility that he may not arrive until April 8, in which case he will stay through April 10.

2. As you know, we are to be visited this spring by Mr. Butler, MM. Mayer and Bidault and Mr. Köprülü.³⁷ You may, therefore, think it advisable to extend an invitation to the Federal German Chancellor to come to Ottawa at the close of his Washington slay. Last year when he visited Dr. Adenauer, Mr. Abbott made the suggestion, quite informally, that should the Chancellor ever be going to our side of the world he would be a welcome visitor to Canada. Our Ambassador to the Federal Republic reported Mr. Abbott's suggestion and as a result consideration was given to the question of inviting Dr. Adenauer to Ottawa. It was decided to let the matter ride for the time being as we were not convinced that public opinion in Canada was quite ready to welcome a visit from the German Chancellor.

3. Since then, however, Dr. Adenauer has played an increasingly important role on the international scene. Moreover, Canada's relations with the Federal Republic have been closer and, on the whole, more cordial. The visit to Ottawa last September of Dr. Erhard, the West German Minister for Economic Affairs, passed off well and aroused no adverse comment in the press or public.

It is agreed by the members of NATO that a German contribution to Western defence is indispensable and it is clear that Dr. Adenauer shares this view and that his political opponents question it. The problem of ratification of the EDC Treaty by Germany is a crucial one and any evidence of friendship and solidarity which we can show the Federal Chancellor will, I think, be welcome to him and helpful to our common cause.

5. I would, therefore, suggest that we instruct the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn to convey an invitation from the Canadian Government to Chancellor Adenauer to visit Ottawa immediately following his Washington visit. If you agree, I shall take the necessary steps to see that the invitation is sent and a suitable programme arranged.