As part of last year's Mutual Aid programme, the following equipment, inter alia, was allocated by the Canadian Government to France:

(a) 72 Equipment, Quick Firing, 6-pr Anti Tank (Tractor Drawn)
(b) 17 Equipment, QF, 40 mm Anti-aircraft (Self Propelled)
(c)14,000 Cartridges, QF, 6-pr, 7 cwt Armour Piercing and Armour CBC (Capped Ballister)
(d) 37 Telescopes, sighting, No. 41
(e) 16 Rangefinders, No. 2
(f) 40 Equipment, 25-pr
(g) 4300 Shell, 25-pr

On June 30, Mr. Wilgress wrote to Mr. Claxton saying that the French Embassy had requested the Canadian Government to divert items (a) to (e) to Indo-China for the use of the French Army there. He pointed out that the Defence Appropriation Act, 1950, would appear to allow this and that Mr. Pearson agreed that we could not object to the request of the French Government.

During Mr. Claxton's absence, I registered no objection on the part of the Department of National Defence and as a result, arrangements have now been made with the French to load this aboard the S.S. Tomaha, arriving in Montreal on July 28th.

On his return to Ottawa, Mr. Claxton on July 15, wrote to Mr. Wilgress expressing concern at the prospect of the French diverting Mutual Aid to Indo-China and thought that this should be brought before Cabinet.

Now the French Government have made a further request to External to have items (f) to (h) also diverted to Indo-China and have stated that the S.S. Tomaha destined for Indo-China would, if authorization were granted, carry this equipment also to Indo-China.

In respect to the 25 pounders, I have this morning spoken to Mr. Claxton, who still feels that the Canadian public is not ready for this kind of thing and he would like to have the issue raised with his colleagues.

The problem is, of course, one of timing, in that the French are going ahead with arrangements to bring this ship here and it would perhaps be regrettable if she were to go away empty and the French be told a couple of days later that the Canadian Government had agreed to this diversion.

Yours sincerely,

C.M. DRURY