Dear Mr. Pearson,

I wish to refer to my letter of November 13th,† regarding the desire of the Egyptian Government to establish a Legation in Ottawa, and to inform you that the Egyptian Ambassador came to see me the other day. His Government fully appreciated' !he reasons why the Canadian Government could not contemplate an exchange of diplomatic missions at this time, and were grateful for the frank explanation of our position which had been given them. They were, however, still concerned about the representation of Egyptian interests in Canada, particularly at a time like this when problems of procurement, both food supplies and equipment, were worrying most governments. They felt their interests would be better served by the maintenance in Canada of a diplomatic mission which could supervise their purchasing activities and see that Egyptian enquiries were properly brought to the attention of the competent Canadian Departments of Government. Would we, in these special circumstances, agree to receive an Egyptian Minister if they expressly waived the question of reciprocity?

I explained to the Ambassador that the establishment of an Egyptian Legation in Ottawa automatically raised the question of our reciprocating, regardless of an understanding reached between our two Governments, and for this reason I felt that our Government would have to return a discouraging reply to his renewed request. I suggested, however, that his Government might consider the appointment of a Consul General to Canada, who would be able to do everything that a Minister could do for Egyptian trade and procurement interests. Such an appointment would not create for us any of the complications which might be anticipated from the establishment of an Egyptian Legation in Ottawa, and should meet at least the interim needs of the Government of Egypt. If, after some experience in the maintenance of a consular office in Canada, it appeared that the volume and the character of business between our two countries was such as to require more elaborate establishments, I had no doubt that the Canadian Government would view the exchange of diplomatic missions with sympathy. The Ambassador took up with alacrity this suggestion that a Consulate General might meet their needs, and undertook to recommend this course of action to his Government.

Yours sincerely,
N. A. ROBERTSON