Bethel on Media Coverage of the Norman Case

F B I
Date: 6-28-57

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Ottawa file 105-89

Also forwarded herewith is an article from “Maclean’s Magazine,” dated 7-6-57, entitled, “Where Canada Stands in the World Crisis.” This article is an interview of LESTER B. PEARSON, and it will be noted that the Norman case was prominently mentioned during the interview. Contacts here continue to comment that they consider it unlikely that the Norman case will continue to receive publicity and that it will not be an issue in the session of Parliament which will convene during the fall of 1956 [sic – 1957]. This belief, however, does not seem to be borne out by the behaviour of such men as PEARSON, who has allowed himself to be interviewed and thus leaving the Norman case and the matter of exchange of security information between the U.S. and Canada open for discussion.

An article entitled, “Red-Tainted Not Always Dismissed,” from the front page of the “Gazette,” Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June 28, 1957, is also forwarded herewith, which illustrates that the matter is still receiving some front page notice.

Also what is supposed to be a responsible Canadian magazine [Maclean’s], which has supposedly gained stature during a recent reorganization, now prints an article which refers to “American secret police,” undoubtedly meaning the FBI, and which questions the RCMP’s “tie-in with the FBI.”

Articles such as those forwarded herewith illustrates the wisdom of moving the office of the Legat, Ottawa, to the U. S. Embassy.

[Glenn H.] BETHEL
[Special Agent in Charge, FBI Liaison Office, RCMP HQ, Ottawa]

CONFIDENTIAL