Good Neighbor's Visit

Canada's courtly Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent paid his first call on President Eisenhower last week and Washington rolled out its plushiest red carpet. In two days with the President and other Administration leaders, St. Laurent covered a lot of ground. Among topics discussed: P: The St. Lawrence Seaway (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS). Asked how he felt about the seaway aftef 'talking to President Eisenhower, St. Laurent answered diplomatically : neither encouraged nor discouraged. P: U.S.-Canadian trade. St. Laurent worried about U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, particularly about a bill, now pending before the House of Representatives, which calls for higher tariffs on Canadian lead and zinc. Said St. Laurent in a speech at the National Press Club: "[A] vast exchange of goods for the common advantage of our two peoples is ... essential to the strength and prosperity of this continent . . . [We] need . . . trade policies of good neighbors." St. Laurent suggested a joint board to expand and liberalize U.S.-Canadian trade.

P: Communist strategy. The Prime Minister and the President declared that the Communist invasion of Laos made it seem doubtful that the Communists are sincere in their latest peace offensive.*

Most important result of the visit: St. Laurent came to know Eisenhower and his team, by all accounts got along with them swimmingly. Said St. Laurent of the talks: "Very pleasant, very interesting . . . very fruitful."

Even Money

The Canadian dollar, which last year was worth about 4% more than the U.S. dollar, last week was back almost at par. In Wall Street, the premium on a Canadian dollar was less than half a cent.

Toronto banks rated it below par in cash transactions, charging $100.37 Canadian for $100 U.S. At most border points, the two dollars were traded even. One cause: a marked slowdown in the great rush of U.S. investments to Canada.

* For a somewhat different interpretation, by Britain's Prime Minister, see FOREIGN NEWS.

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