P.C. 4458/41
CANADIAN NATIONAL TELEGRAPHS
OTTAWA, May 16, 1941.
HONOURABLE W. ABERHART, B.A., M.P.P.,
PREMIER OF ALBERTA,
EDMONTON, ALBERTA.
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LETTER MAY THIRTEENTH AND NOTE YOUR CONCLUSION
STOP AS YOU WILL REALIZE LOSS OF TIME PARTICULARLY SERIOUS
FACTOR STOP BRITISH GOVERNMENT BEING ADVISED IMMEDIATELY AND
IN THE MEANTIME PENDING THEIR REPLY AND TO MINIMIZE FURTHER
DELAY I AM SENDING COLONEL GIBSON AND MR DYDE TO EDMONTON TO
CONFER WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIALS REGARDING CHANGED
SITUATION AND POSSIBLE MEASURES OF COOPERATION BY YOUR GOVERNMENT
WHICH MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN EVENT OF DOMINION TAKING INITIATIVE
IN ACQUIRING PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS DIRECT STOP WOULD BE GREATLY
OBLIGED BY YOUR ARRANGING THAT COLONEL GIBSON AND MR DYDE BE
GIVEN ALL POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION IN VIEW OF VITAL AND URGENT
IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT STOP YOUR CONTINUED OFFER OF PROVINCIAL
LAND IS MUCH APPRECIATED
J. L. Ralston
Minister of National Defence