Washington: the President makes a top-secret telephone call;

Ottawa: tempers flare at the Governor General's reception;

Vancouver: a stateless immigrant is refused permission to land.

Three semingly unrelated events bring startling consequences for James Howden, head of a great government - a man whose destiny hinges on a scrap of paper.

Arthur Hailey tells with challenging insight of the passions that seethe behind the prim facade of government offices as politicians in power fight to stay there - bartering, backstabbing, browbeating, bribing with honours, money or women...