James Cross

James Richard Cross, CMG (born 29 September 1921) is a British former diplomat in Canada who was kidnapped by Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) militants during the October Crisis of October 1970.

Born in Ireland and known by his friends as "Jasper", during World War II, Cross served with the British Army and fought for the liberation of France. In 1944 he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers Movement Control Section. After the war he joined the diplomatic service and eventually served as a Trade Commissioner in Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Kuala Lumpur, before becoming senior Trade Commissioner in Montreal, Quebec.

Cross went on to serve as Under-Secretary in various divisions of Britain's Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Energy. In 1971, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).

On 5 October 1970 Cross was abducted at gunpoint from his British diplomatic residence at 1297 Redpath Crescent, in the Golden Square Mile district of Montreal, and held as a hostage for two months as the FLQ made a series of demands to the Quebec government. He was released on 3 December, after nearly 2 months (1 month, 28 days) in captivity. In exchange for his release, his abductors would get safe passage to Cuba. The talks were held at the Canada Pavilion, located on Notre Dame Island, the site of Expo '67. This site was declared Cuban territory for the period of the talks.

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