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Ottawa / 10:40 a.m., EDT

As the three party leaders left his office, the Prime Minister motioned to Senator Thomas to stay. He went back to his desk, pushed the intercom button for his secretary, and asked, “Have you any messages I should know about?”

“No, Prime Minister, but I can tell you that Mr. Scott has been on the phone constantly, with people calling and trying to find out what’s been going on.”

“I’ll bet he has. Tell me the names of the people who’ve turned up from the press.”

“Peter Forbes, President of the National Press Gallery is here. You know him, Prime Minister. And the Executive Vice-President of the CBC, James Laing, came. He’s agreed also to represent CTV and Global, so there are just these two gentlemen.”

“Would you ask them to come in, please.”

The Prime Minister turned to Senator Thomas. “We can have a few words when these people leave, John.”

From the chair in the corner of the room which was to be his listening post, Thomas replied, with a wry smile, “Bob, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

The Prime Minister moved toward the main entrance door to greet Forbes and Laing as they entered the office.

“Peter, good to see you, and you, Jim. Have you people met Senator John Thomas? I’ve asked Senator Thomas to sit in on all the meetings I will be having in the next few hours so he can assist me in keeping some balance and perspective as well as give me advice.”

When they were seated, the Prime Minister gave them a rapid-fire rundown on the President’s ultimatum, the action he had already taken, and the plans to recall Parliament, bring in the premiers, carry out the major briefing the next morning, and convene the House and Senate during the afternoon.

Peter Forbes was almost beside himself with excitement. When the Prime Minister completed his explanation of the situation, Forbes practically shouted, “This is a fantastic story. Good God, I’ve got to get to my paper fast!” He looked around the room as if he were trying to figure out the quickest exit.

“Now wait a minute, Peter,” Porter said calmly. “That’s the real reason I want to talk with you and Jim. This might be the story of your lifetime, but it’s also the worst and most disastrous crisis this country has had to face outside wartime. You people are in highly responsible positions, and you’ll be among the first to recognize that if this story goes rocketing off, there could well be panic across Canada. I don’t want that to happen, and I’m sure you don’t either. So what I want to talk to you about is how the press can help control the situation.”

James Laing put in cautiously, “What do you have in mind, sir?”

“I guess what I have in mind is something that really can’t be done.” The Prime Minister turned away from the two men facing him and looked out the window as he thought the question over. “What I really would like to see is a conscious effort by the press, TV and radio people to play this situation down. I don’t want the newspapers to have four-inch headlines saying, ‘Crisis Canada’ or ‘U.S. Ultimatum.’ I don’t want the television and radio programs to be interrupted with emergency bulletins. I would like to see a sort of normal, everyday reporting of the U.S. proposals and how we are dealing with them, just as if we had a routine situation on our hands. I’m not suggesting for one moment that the facts be suppressed or that the news be controlled. My concern is that the people of Canada should not be panicked.”

Forbes, a peppery, excitable little fellow, the senior Ottawa Hill reporter with one of the Montreal papers, took the stance Porter had expected. In a rather hostile voice he said, “Are you suggesting, sir, that the press in this country are irresponsible or that we would deliberately go out of our way to over-emphasize the importance of this story just to sell newspapers? The press has always treated you fairly, Prime Minister, and I don’t see why you think.…”

The Prime Minister broke in. “I’m not making any such suggestion, Peter, but what I do recognize is that there are human beings running the newspapers and the newsrooms and television stations across this country. How they react to this whole situation will largely dictate how they will print the story.

“Let me lay the thing right on the table for you. I am very much afraid that there will be a strong and possibly violent anti-American reaction among the people of Canada, especially among those who live close to the American border. The last thing I want is to see the people of this country worked up to such a state that some foolish acts of reprisal will be taken against American citizens in Canada by wild-eyed nationalistic Canadians whose emotional juices are turned on, not only by the ultimatum itself, but by inflammatory reporting.”

Laing raised a calming hand toward Peter Forbes and said to the Prime Minister, “I see your point, sir. What you say about reaction by the Canadian people is probably quite true. The last thing in the world I would want to see would be some act of violence against American nationals. That would set up a valid reason in the President’s mind for some sort of reprisal, perhaps even military action, against Canada. Maybe that’s just what he’d like to see at this time, and it’s exactly the sort of thing that might happen, not only between now and tomorrow night but for some time after that.” Laing hesitated. “But the problem is, sir, that I don’t know what can be done about it.”

“I agree, Prime Minister,” said Forbes. “But how can I, or anyone in the Press Gallery, for that matter, convince his editor to play it cool? Frankly, sir, I don’t think there’s a hope in hell that you can keep the lid on this.”

Senator John Thomas’ voice rumbled from the corner, startling all three of them. “Prime Minister, I wonder if you might permit me to put in a word.”

“Sure, John, please do.”

“Well, it seems to me that there’s only one person in Canada who can explain the situation to the people and make them see matters in the proper light, and that’s you.

“I suggest that rather than place the burden upon Mr. Laing and Mr. Forbes or their colleagues, you take the matter before the whole country. I think you should appear on national television some time later today and make a statement to the nation. You should outline the seriousness of the situation and directly suggest to the press, radio and TV people that every effort should be made to keep all the facts in perspective, that the American position in the energy crisis should be understood, and that typical Canadian calmness and coolness should prevail.”

Laing nodded his head in agreement. “I think that’s an excellent idea, Prime Minister. The CBC will clear its national TV network for you at any time, and I know CTV and Global will do the same. In fact, I would be pleased to speak to them for you if you wish.”

The Prime Minister turned to Forbes. “What do you think, Peter?”

“Sounds good to me, sir, but I suggest that you get something out to the public as quickly as possible.”

“All right, then. I’ll need some time to prepare a statement. What about nine o’clock this evening? Could you clear half an hour at that time for me, Jim?”

Laing replied, “No problem, sir, but is there any possibility of your doing it earlier?”

“I don’t think so. There’s just too much to be done. However, I think I can put together a press release, although there isn’t time for a press conference now. You can alert your people that a release will be made in half an hour. In the meantime, I’d like both of you to keep this discussion in confidence, and, Jim, if you will check with CTV and Global and clear the network time with them as well, I’d appreciate it. Would you get in touch with Tom Scott, my chief executive assistant, when the matter has been arranged? Also would you let him know if there are any snags? I think it would be appropriate to carry the program on your radio network as well.”

As the Prime Minister stood up to terminate the meeting, there was a quick knock on the door, and Tom Scott entered.

“Sir, we’ve just had word that the President is going on television at 12:30. It looks as though he’s going to make a public announcement about the ultimatum.”

Porter was silent for a moment or two. Then he turned to Laing and Forbes and said, “Well, gentlemen, it looks as though the time-table is now somewhat out of our hands. Jim, I would appreciate it if you could clear your television network for me to speak immediately after the President’s address. I’ll try to deal with the points he raises at that time and make it as short as I can. In any event, I will still want to do the lengthy and considered statement at nine o’clock. Can you arrange it?”

Laing looked at his watch and exclaimed, “My God, it’s now two minutes to twelve. We’ve just a little over half an hour. If you can let me use the phone I think we can arrange for you to follow the President, but we’ll have to hustle. As far as nine o’clock tonight is concerned, that’s no problem. I’ll get onto our technical people immediately to get a TV camera and crew up here. I understand you have a cable and hookup for transmission in the Conference Room down the hall.”

Tom Scott said, “That’s right.”

“Good. We’ll use that room for your broadcast. Now, Mr. Scott, if you can get me to a telephone I’ll get everything set up.”

After getting Laing started on his calls, Scott returned to the Prime Minister’s office and reported, “Sir, all the members of the Cabinet are now in the Cabinet Room. I’ve also arranged for the six deputy ministers of the key departments and the Governor of the Bank of Canada to be present.”

Porter nodded. “Good. You’d better get the Deputy Minister of National Defence, too, if he’s available. How are the arrangements for transportation coming?”

“Very well, sir. Things seem to be going smoothly. Also the premiers are on their way now.”

“That’s fine. Now if you’ll look after Mr. Forbes, I want to have a brief word with Senator Thomas before I meet the Cabinet. “Thanks again, Peter. I appreciate your advice and co-operation.”

As the door shut behind them, Porter said, “Well, John, what do you think of the situation?” He walked over to a massive easy chair in front of the great stone fireplace, lowered himself into it, and put his feet up on the coffee table.

Thomas sat down opposite him, put his notebook and pen on the table, and said, “I think you’ve got all the bases covered, Bob. While you’re dealing with the Cabinet, do you want me to put together the draft press release? You remember you told Forbes you’d have one in half an hour.”

“I forgot about that when I heard the President was going to speak. No, it won’t be necessary now that I’m going on TV. My shot at that time will be more than sufficient, so don’t waste your time putting anything together.”

Thomas nodded. “Right. Now the only other question I have is this. Do you think there’s any possibility of getting the President to extend his time limit? It seems to me that after all these years of negotiating and haggling another day or two shouldn’t matter much to him. But it would give you and the whole country a far better opportunity to assess the ultimatum before a final answer is given. If there’s any chance at all of getting him to change the time, it must be done before he gets on television. He won’t do it after that.”

“You’re right. I think you’d better try to get the President on the phone for me while I go to meet with the Cabinet. If you’ll let me know when the call comes through, I’ll go to the office across the hall and take it there.”

The Prime Minister gathered up the papers on his desk and headed for the Cabinet Room. As he entered the dignified, elegant panelled room lined with portraits of past prime ministers, the buzz of conversation ceased abruptly and everyone in the room stood up. Porter went directly to the high-backed chair at the end of the long highly polished table, said, “Thank you, gentlemen,” and sat down.

With great shuffling and scuffling of chairs, the ministers seated themselves at the table in order of seniority, with the deputy ministers and other staff ranged round the outside of the room.

The Prime Minister opened the meeting without preliminaries. “Gentlemen, I am sure that by this time all of you have been informed that the President of the United States, on behalf of the government of that country, presented to me in a telephone conversation this morning a three-part ultimatum, the answer to which must be given by Parliament no later than six o’clock tomorrow evening.

“At this moment my staff are trying to get through to the President so that I may speak with him and ask that the time be extended. The President is scheduled to address the United States on television at 12:30. Once he informs the American people of the action he has taken, it will be impossible to get him to extend the time, so if we can’t get it done now we won’t get it at all.

“As soon as I receive word that the President will speak with me, I’ll leave the Cabinet Room to talk to him, but I’ll come back here as soon as we’re finished. I suggest we watch the President’s address here so that I can get your immediate reaction. The CBC are setting up a television camera in the Conference Room next to my office, and I will go on live immediately following the President. Unfortunately I will not have time to consult with you about my response, but I hope you have enough confidence in me to back me up in what I say.”

Robert Gendron, the Minister for External Affairs, broke in, “Prime Minister, despite the relatively short time you have held office, I know I can assure you that every one of your colleagues here has the utmost faith in you and will stand behind whatever response you see fit to make.” There were immediate cries of “Hear, hear!”

As Gendron was speaking, John Thomas had entered the room. He whispered to the Prime Minister, “The President has agreed to speak with you, but it must be very brief because he is attempting to put the finishing touches to what he is going to say on television. If you come with me now, everything is set up.”