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His body and the British copy of the treaty were never recovered."
"But surely Essex reached Washington with the American copy.
Pitt shook his head. "The train carrying Essex plunged off a bridge into the Hudson River. The disaster became something of a classic mystery when neither the crew and the passengers, nor any trace of the train, was ever found."
"That still left one copy in Canadian hands."
"The trail goes cold at this point," said Pitt. "The rest is speculation. Apparently Asquith's cabinet rebelled. The ministers, including no doubt Churchill, must have been furious when they discovered the Prime Minister and the King had tried to sell off their largest dominion behind their backs."
"I doubt the Canadians were overly fond of the deal either."
"With two copies of the treaty gone it would have been a simple matter for Sir
Robert Borden, a loyal Englishman, by the way, to have destroyed the third, leaving Wilson with no tangible evidence to advance an American claim."
"It doesn't seem possible official records concerning negotiations of such magnitude could be so conveniently lost," said the President.
"Wilson states in his letter he instructed his secretary to destroy all mention of the pact. I can't speak for the Foreign Office, but it seems a safe bet to say they're collectors. Traditionally, the British aren't given to throwing away or burning documents. Whatever treaty papers survive are probably buried under a ton of dust in some old Victorian warehouse."
The President rose and began pacing. "I wish I could have studied the wording of the treaty."
"You can." Pitt smiled. "Essex penned a draft in his desk diary."
"May I keep it?"
"Of course."
"How did you happen onto this diary?"
"It was in the possession of his grandson," Pitt answered without elaboration.
"John Essex?"
"Yes."
"Why did he keep it a secret all these years?"
"He must have been afraid its exposure would cause an international upheaval."
"He may have been right," said the President. "If the press blasted this discovery on a slow news week, there is no predicting the grassroots reaction by people on both sides of the border. Wilson was right: the Americans are a possessive lot. They might demand a takeover of Canada. And God only knows the hell Congress would raise."
"There is a catch," said Pitt.
The President stopped his pacing. "And that is?"
"There is no record of payment. The initial deposit was converted to a loan. Even if a copy of the treaty turned up, the British would reject it by claiming, and rightfully so, they were never compensated."
"Yes," the President said slowly, "nonpayment could void the treaty."
He moved to the tall windows and gazed across the winter brown grass of the White House lawn, saying nothing, struggling with his thoughts. Finally he turned and stared directly at Pitt.
"Who knows about the North American Treaty besides you?"
"Commander Heidi Milligan, who began the preliminary research after finding the Wilson letter, the Senate historian who uncovered the photographs, my father, and of course, Admiral Sandecker. Since he is my immediate superior I only felt it fair he should know what I was investigating."
"No one else?"
Pitt shook his head. "I can't think of anyone."
