Evening star., 1946-03-19
Canada Base for Red,
Seeking Information
On U. s., King Says
BY the Associossd Pres.

OTTAWA, Mar. 18.-Prime
Minister w. L. Mackenzie King
told Parliament last night that
his government was gravely con-
cerned over Russian espionage
activities which he said had ex-
tended through the Dominion
into the United States and Brit
ain, but he frowned on the idea
of an open break between Can
ada and Russia.
| Voicing his belief that Premier
Stain was ignorant of the espion-
Iage activities. Mr.. King emphasized
Canada's desire for only the best
of relations with the U. s. s. r."
A tense house heard the 90-min-
ate address in which the Prime Min
lister reviewed the course of his gov
ernment's investigation into an al
legged Russian spy plot, the first
inkling of which was given by Mr.
King himself last February IS in a
public statement that caused a SEN
sation in Britain and the United
States as well as Canada.
He told Parliament that docu-
ments seized in the espionage in
lquiry and accepted by the govern
ment as being of undoubted au-
thenticity, disclose among other
things that Canada was being made
a base to secure information on mat
tiers Of very great and grave con-
Germ to the United States and also
to Great Britain"
The Prime Minister said further
that these documents showed that
information was being sought
through agents here with respect to
many matters that were of the ut
most concern to Canada. the United
States and the United Kingdom. y
He did not elaborate except to re-
peat previous official announcements
that troop movements and scientific
data were sought.
Mr.. King said that operators con-
Quoted through the Soviet Embassy
in Ottawa went back as far as 1943
and had created las serious q Situa-
tion as has existed in Canada at any
time" having potentially far
reaching repercusSions
Absolves Stain.
He drew a distinction. however,
between the Soviet agents, who he
said, had conducted the espionage,
and Premier Stain and the Russian
people.
Il know" ne said, ''or have learned
Of Mr.. Stain from those who have
been closely associated with him in
the war, that which causes me to
believe that he would not counte-
nance action of this kind on the part
of his country. and l believe that
when these facts are known to him
and to others in positions of full re-
sponsibility, we shall find that a
change will come that will make a
vast difference indeed"
"As far as the Russian people are
concerned" he said at another point
Il am as sure as 1 am of ANYTHING
that the Russian people are just as
anxious TO have friendly relations
with Canada and with peoples in
other parts of the world as our own
people are. but in that country there
are persons who for their own selfish
ends will do many things that would
not be countenanced by the great
ma jority."
Opposes Break With Russia.
Mr.. King said he hopeo no one
in responsible position would call
for severance of diplomatic rela-
tions with Russia.
I'VE in Canada" he said. want
only the best of relations with the
U. S. S. r.. as We do with very other
country, and We must not be too
ready to judge until we know all
the circumstances Connected with the
particular situation.
Il believe it Is true that there
are agencies working, may 1 put it,
at the side of the Russian Embassy
which are doing things that possibly
are unknown to the Ambassador
himself and members of his staff
That may be so, and it may not
be so.
The time will come when all this
can be worked out and. / hope and
pray. will be worked out in a man.
ner which will let us get rid of
Whatever there may be of wrong
and evil in the whole business and
establish the friendliest relations on
a true and sound basis which will
be above suspicion in every Way"