In July, 1947, the Canadian Government was invited by the president of the Swedish Red Cross to send a delegation to the 17th International Red Cross Conference which will be held in Stockholm from August 20th to 30th, 1948.

2. After consideration of the various factors involved, I recommended that Canada should be represented at the Conference by an observer rather than by delegates. You concurred in this recommendation, and the Swedish Red Cross was informed of your decision in a letter dated September 27th, 1947.

3. At that time it was believed that the Diplomatic Conference for the conclusion of revised Geneva Conventions would be convened before the Stockholm Red Cross Conference. It now appears, however, that the Diplomatic Conference will not be convened until some months after the Stockholm Conference. The revision of the Geneva Conventions will be an important item on the agenda of the Stockholm Conference, and the draft Conventions which will be presented to the Diplomatic Conference may be altered materially at Stockholm.

4. It is, therefore, recommended that the decision to be represented at Stockholm by an observer only be reconsidered.

5. The attached memorandumt sets forth the various factors involved in a decision to be represented by delegates rather than by observers, and contains the following recommendations:

(a) That it be approved to send to the Stockholm Conference a three man delegation consisting of officers of this Department and of the Department of National Defence;

(b) That the delegation be instructed not to become involved in Red Cross "politics" or in any other contentious issues not directly concerned with the Geneva Conventions;

(c) That it be approved to inform the Swedish Red Cross of the composition of the delegation. (The Swedish Red Cross has asked to be informed at the earliest possible date in order to arrange hotel accommodation.)

6. If you agree with these proposals,¹⁰¹ a memorandum for Cabinet will be prepared immediately. More detailed recommendations on the policies to be followed by the delegation could be submitted at a later date.

L.B. PEARSON

¹⁰¹Note marginale :/Marginal note:
I agree. St. L[aurent]