World War II

1. World War II Towards Autonomy

2. Canadian Autonomy • The ability of a country to make its own decisions, free from outside influence, is called autonomy. • Canada wanted to avoid getting into another European conflict that had nothing to do with Canada. • King wanted to avoid an Imperial policy.

3. Chanak • In 1920, the British had a peace treaty with Turkey that allowed them to occupy Chanak, a small seaport. • However, in 1922, Turkish nationalist forces moved into Chanak. • It looked like war might occur. Britain sent a request to Canada to provide soldiers.

4. Chanak • King wrote in his diary: • “I confess [the message] annoyed me. It is drafted designedly to play the imperial game, to test out centralization vs. autonomy as regards European wars… I have thought out my plans… No contingent will go without parliament being summoned in the first instance.” • Chanak did not turn into war, but a message was sent to Britain.

5. Halibut Treaty • In 1923, Canada signed a treaty with the U.S. called the Halibut Treaty which concerned fishing rights in the North Pacific. • Britain wanted its ambassador to sign the treaty for Canada, but King refused. • Canada did ask Britain to ratify the treaty, but another message had been sent.

6. 1923 Imperial Conference • In 1923, King represented Canada at an Imperial Conference in London, England. • “We believe that the decision of Great Britain on any important public issue, domestic or foreign, should be made by the people of Britain, their representatives in Parliament and the Government responsible to that Parliament. So the decision of Canada on any important issue, domestic or foreign, we believe should be made by the people of Canada, their representatives in Parliament and the Government responsible to that Parliament.”

7. Article 10 • Canada faced a challenge to autonomy as a member of the League of Nations • The League of Nations is the forefather of the United Nations. It consisted of a number of countries and was created to help conserve peace and prevent war. • Article 10 of the League Covenant stated that the members agreed to protect each other.

8. Article 10 • “The heavy sacrifice to which we agreed for the reestablishment of peace in Europe led us to reflect on what the future might hold in store. May I be permitted to add that in this association of mutual insurance against fire the risks assumed by the different states are not equal? We live in a fire-proof house, far from inflammable materials. A vast ocean separates us from Europe. Canada therefore believed it to be her duty to seek a precise interpretation of what appeared to her to be the indefinite obligations included in Article 10 of the Covenant.” • Senator Raoul Dandurand, Canada’s delegate to the League.

9. Article 10 • King argued that the risk of Canada of becoming involved in war was much less than the other nations. Why then should Canada have to make the same commitments as other countries that were at a much greater risk? • An amendment to the league covenant was proposed, but it was defeated in 1923.

10. The Balfour Report • In 1926, an imperial conference came to a decision known as the Balfour Report. • It stated that British dominions are: • “…autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.”

11. The Statute of Westminster • In 1931, the Statute of Westminster was passed by British parliament which confirmed the independence of the British dominions. • Canada was now free to form its own foreign policy, and legislation no longer required the approval of Britain.

12. Closer Ties with the US • This allowed Canada to pursue closer ties with its closest neighbour, the U.S. • Roosevelt was also pushing for closer ties with Canada. • In 1935, the two nations agreed on a trade treaty to lower American tariffs on two-thirds of Canadian exports. This was a move away from protectionism.

13. Import-Export Trade Between Canada and the United States Import-export trade between Canada and the United States grew steadily in the years following the 1938 trade agreement.