Page:Order in Council PC4458-1941 20-June-1941.djvu/5



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