With a Confident Air

Like a Canaveral countdown, Canadian newspapers were counting off Lester Pearson's promised "60 days of decision." They were already two weeks along, and Canadians who suspected that Pearson would prove more effective as a Prime Minister than as a campaigner have so far been proved right. His new Cabinet met four times in the first week. Newsmen clogged the corridors scribbling furiously to catch all that was being said about new capital funds for regional development, new ideas to promote industry, new enthusiasm for tariff cutting in international trade. Buoyant and assured, he bounced on nationwide TV one night, and in a rare flight of inspirational rhetoric, promised Canada a government "to excite the daring, to test the strong and to give a new promise to the timid."

Cherished Dream. Since he would not have to face his first Parliament until May 16, Pearson used the time to mend Canada's international friendships so sorely strained by the cantankerous, indecisive ways of the defeated John Diefenbaker. "One of my most cherished dreams," said Pearson, "has long been to see a North Atlantic community linked by so many indissoluble spiritual, moral, social and economic bonds that its common life will have a paramount influence not only on the lives of its member peoples but on the hopes of all peoples for peace and human brotherhood." So saying, he flew off for a four-day visit to London, where warming winds were already blowing. Remembering the chill atmosphere surrounding the last Diefenbaker visit, one Canadian civil servant remarked discreetly, "It was cold in February."

Pearson's first courtesy call on Prime Minister Harold Macmillan went on for 40 minutes, and when newsmen asked why so long for a routine call, Pearson grinned: "We had a Scotch." Before a luncheon meeting, Macmillan asked him to show up 15 minutes early so that he could meet the Cabinet and address them briefly. Labor's Opposition Leader Harold Wilson dropped by for "a very long and private talk about world affairs." In addition to the usual protocol visit, Queen Elizabeth asked Pearson and his wife to come spend the night at Windsor Castle.

On to Hyannisport. There were no treaties to sign, no formal agreements to negotiate, and not even a communique to mark the trip, and none were needed. The talk ranged from Commonwealth trade and the Common Market, such touchy matters under Diefenbaker, to Canada's role in the inter-allied nuclear force proposed for NATO. On every count, Pearson declared himself "quite satisfied."

Then it was back home to prepare for still another visit--to the U.S. and President Kennedy. In two days snugly ensconced in the Kennedy compound at Hyannisport, Mass., he will stay in Bobby Kennedy's digs, just a football pass across the lawn from the President's own home, and the talk will go on over poached eggs at breakfast, at bull sessions lounging in overstuffed chairs, and during walks along the beach. The U.S. President wants to brief Pearson on how things look around the world, discuss trade expansion and reach some understanding on nuclear arms. But there will be no pressing and no pronouncements at Hyannisport--only a chance to restore U.S.-Canadian neighborliness to its traditional trust.

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