Figure 1.-- |
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Canada as a British Dominion joined Britain in both World War I and World War II, although its French-speaking minority was less supportive. After the War, Canada continued to be involved in Europe, this time along with the United States. Canada signed the UN Charter (1945). The country has from the beginning placed a major emphasis on the United Nations in it foreign policy and has provided peace keeping forces on several occasions. This reflects an idealistic thread in Canadian foreign policy which Primeminister Louis St. Laurent outlined (1947). He saw a foreign policy based on the principles of national unity, political liberty, the rule of law, Christian values, and acceptance of international responsibilities. He saw Canada achieving those goals by participating in constructive international action through multilateral organizations. There was also the reality of the Soviet Union which Canada faces across the Arctic Ocean. Canada was a founding member of NATO (1948). Canada pressed for the inclusion Article 2 which some call the 'The Canadian Article'. This provides that NATO members will work to strengthen democracy, stability and well-being and increase economic collaboration. NATO met Canada's foreign policy needs because it was a multilateral organization and not a bilateral effort with either America or Britain. A Soviet defector exposed a spy ring in Canada (1948). Canada participated in the U.S./UN effort to save South Korea (1950). It pressed the United States not to push north and draw China into the War. After Korea, Canada began to take a more neutralist position in the Cold war. Canada maintained relations with Castro's Cuba, apparently its commitment to non-interference was stronger than its commitment to democracy and human rights. As in Western Europe, the American effort to save South Vietnam was unpopular in Canada.
Canada as a British Dominion joined Britain in both World War I and World War II, although its French-speaking minority was less supportive. After the War, Canada continued to be involved in Europe, this time along with the United States.
Canada signed the UN Charter (1945). The country has from the beginning placed a major emphasis on the United Nations in it foreign policy and has provided peace keeping forces on several occasions. This reflects an idealistic thread in Canadian foreign policy which Primeminister Louis St. Laurent outlined (1947). He saw a foreign policy based on the principles of national unity, political liberty, the rule of law, Christian values, and acceptance of international responsibilities. He saw Canada achieving those goals by participating in constructive international action through multilateral organizations.
A Soviet defector exposed a spy ring in Canada (1948). Igor Sergeyevich Gouzenko (1919-82) was a cipher clerk assignd to the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa during World War II. He wa by all acounts a true believer in Soviet Communism when he arrived, although as he was Ukranian, we wondr if he had anti-Soviet thoughts earlir. Gouzenko had fought with the Red Army on the Eastern Font before being assigned to the Ottawa embassy. Whn his wife joined him some time later, he would lecture her on the weakness of democracy as no one was telling the public how to think. nf he cautioned her against assocuating with neighbors. Over time he and his wife as a result of their experiences in Canada and repressive actions at the Embassyh began to question the Soviet system. The arrival of a son only intensified their their questioning. Then after learning they wer being returned to Moscow, they defected (September 5, 1945). They at first had trouble getting Canadian officials to listen and the Embasy staff almost brought them back to the Embassy. This was only preventd with the arrival of the Royal Mounted Police. Gouzenko brought with him 109 documents detailing Soviet espionage activities in the West. The espionage ring Gouzenko exposedwas not one established during the Cold War, but whileCanda and the Soviet Union were allies fifgting NAZI Germany. Several Cannadians were implicated in espionage activities, including a member of parliament and imporant scientists. Prime Minister Mackenzie King was forced to create a Royal Commission to investigate espionage in Canada. Gouzenko exposed the NKVDs efforts to steal nuclear secrets shorly after the bomns were dropped on Japan and the end of the War. This was several years before Soviet py rings were uncovered in America and Britain. Soviet intelligence ativities such as planting sleeper agents were exposed. The 'Gouzenko Affair is often descibed as an opning salvo in the Cold War coming as it did only days after the end of World War II. Two historians writes, "Gouzenko was the beginning of the Cold War for public opinion." [Granatstein and Stafford] The whole affairs was widely reported in the United States. We would not say that the Gouzenko affair was the bginning of the Cold War. Stalin had already launhed it with his attacks on the Polish-Government in Exile. It was, however, the beginning of the cahmnge in public thinking towrd the Soviet Union from a vaiant ally to a totalitarian agressor nation. A much larger Soviet espionage network would be overturned in America as a result of the Verona papers.
There was also the reality of the Soviet Union which Canada faces across the Arctic Ocean. Canada was a founding member of NATO (1948). Canada pressed for the inclusion Article 2 which some call the 'The Canadian Article'. This provides that NATO members will work to strengthen democracy, stability and well-being and increase economic collaboration. NATO met Canada's foreign policy needs because it was a multilateral organization and not a bilateral effort with either America or Britain.
Canada participated in the U.S./UN effort to save South Korea (1950). It pressed the United States not to push north and draw China into the War.
After Korea, Canada began to take a more neutralist position in the Cold war. Canada maintained relations with Castro's Cuba, apparently its commitment to non-interference was stronger than its commitment to democracy and human rights. As in Western Europe, the American effort to save South Vietnam was unpopular in Canada. The policies that led to the implosion of the Soviet Union would be a largely American effort ith little assistace from Canada.
Granatstein, Jack L. and David Stafford. Spy Wars (Key Porter Books Ltd.: 1990).
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