WASHINGTON, D.C. — President George W. Bush wasn't trying to strong-arm Canadians on missile defence in a private meeting last month with Prime Minister Paul Martin, U.S. officials said Monday.

"We clearly would disagree,'' said one White House source who did advance work on the trip.

"He took a conciliatory message to Canada, about moving beyond Iraq and moving forward,'' said the source who didn't want to be identified. The official couldn't confirm exactly what Bush said behind closed doors.

The Washington Post newspaper quoted an unidentified Canadian official who was in the room as saying Bush waved off attempts to explain how contentious the issue is for Martin's minority government.

"(Bush) leaned across the table and said: `I'm not taking this position, but some future president is going to say: Why are we paying to defend Canada,' '' the official was quoted as saying.

Terry Breese, a State Department spokesman on Canadian issues, said he thinks reports that Bush strongly pushed officials to join the missile defence program are inaccurate. "I wasn't in the meetings but that's not the read-out I got. I don't think it was raised in the manner characterized by the press,'' Breese said.

However, Breese said Canadian officials must have been surprised when Bush brought up the subject in his private meeting with Martin. "It wasn't an issue any of us wanted to press,'' he said. "Clearly Canada wasn't ready to make a decision. "That's what happens with leaders. They get to raise what they want to raise.''

A U.S. lobbyist close to Canadian issues said it appears that Bush really didn't say anything different about missile defence than he has for the last couple of years.

"It's the amplifier effect. If feels more shrill than was really intended.''

Officials north of the border likely decided to characterize the discussion for political purposes, said the lobbyist.

"The prime minister needs to look like he's not caving to Bush on this and they need Bush to look like a jerk.

"If they're going to go against (missile defence), it allows Martin to show his independence.

"And if it causes a national conversation in Canada about how much it means to the U.S. and the fact that Canadians really have nothing to lose and it isn't costing them anything, then I think it suits their purpose.''

A former top Canadian official who now works in the U.S. said it's unfortunate that what was said at the meeting leaked out.

"It plays to this notion of playing the victim. I don't understand the strategy unless the prime minister wants to be negative or avoid making a decision.

"If you're sitting in Washington, Canada looks stupid. And the longer we take to make a decision, the more foolish we look.''

The former official said it likely wouldn't impair relations, however, just as they're on the mend.

"The Americans can shrug it off. They're big people.''