Dear Harold: I enclose herewith a copy of the article to which I referred today in my cable, sent to you at Bermuda. I likewise send a copy of that cable.1
The part of the article that disturbs me so deeply appears in the first two columns. Here is practically a verbatim account of the detailed incidents and events surrounding the elimination of the words "intelligence and planning" from the draft of the communique. The writer, of course, did not know the background that led to the original suggestion, that is, your thought that Canada, yourselves and ourselves should coordinate our efforts to detect any hostile move on the part of the Russians in periods of tension.
Of course the writer himself proves that he did not have the good of either your country or ours in mind in writing the article because he gives the logical reason for its elimination in the two sentences "The announcement was eliminated from the final draft of the document by Secretary of State Dulles. It is understood Mr. Dulles felt this evidence of a more intimate British-United States relationship would offend other allies of the United States, notably France." In other words, he cared nothing for the soundness of the national reasons, only for a story.
This article came out this morning, after Foster and I had held a meeting with our Congressional leaders last evening in which we outlined the general character of our talks, carefully avoiding, however, operational or planning details which could, if publicized, cause embarrassment to either or both of us. Nevertheless we made the truthful assertion that no "secret agreements" were arrived at.2 This morning some of them may be wondering!
I am sure, of course, that you share my disappointment at such an occurrence, with its implication that even the members of such friendly governments as yours and ours cannot talk frankly and freely with one another without the danger of serious leaks to the public press. I earnestly hope that both of us may be successful in preventing things like this in the future so that there may be no interruption of the close communion and coordination that we consider so important to our future security and welfare.3
With warm personal regard, [As ever]
