Canada

1
Canadas Growing Autonomy

• (independent control of its own affairs)

2
Canadas Path to Autonomy

• 1920s major steps toward full autonomy
• complete control over its own affairs
• Different path than the United States
• Peaceful vs. Violent
• World War I was a major turning point for Canada.
  

3
During WWI

• Major contribution as a country
• Key role in allied victories
• New sense of national maturity
• Canada had gained the right to sign the Treaty of
  Versailles as an independent nation.
• Canada joined the League of Nations separate from
  Britain. (after WWI)
• Canada was still a dominion of the British Empire
  though and Britain had the final say in foreign
  affairs.

4
New Prime Minister

• In 1921, Mackenzie King became Prime Minister.
• He was determined to push for Canadian autonomy.
• A number of events over the next 10 years
  provided him with many opportunities.

5
(1) The Chanak Affair (1922)

• Britain became involved in a conflict with Turkey
  at Chanak (small town that links the Aegean and
  Black Sea)
• Turkey was on the losing side in WWI. They
  threatened to take control of the area.
• Britain sent troops and ships and asked Canada
  for help if war developed.
• PM King was convinced that Canadians did not want
  to be involved in a faraway European war again.

6

• Canada and the USA became more isolationist in
  the 1920s and 30s.
• They did not want to become entangled in foreign
  conflict.
• When Britain asked for help, the PM said
  Parliament would have to decide.
• This was a huge change from WWI when Canada
  automatically joined.
• PM King made it clear that Canada would determine
  its own foreign policy.
• Britains interests were not always the same as
  Canadas anymore.

7
Do I Understand?

• Autonomy?
• Canada vs. USA path to autonomy?
• Canadas maturity during/after WWI?
• Who became Prime Minister?
• Where Chanak is?
• Why Britain was involved with Turkey?
• What Parliament is?
• The change that has occurred in determining
  foreign policy?

8
(2) The Halibut Treaty (1923)

• Canada/USA came to an agreement on the fishing
  season for halibut in the Northern Pacific.
• This matter was of no direct concern to Britain.
• But Britain had always signed treaties on
  Canadas behalf.
• PM King insisted that it be between Canada and
  the USA only.
• Eventually Britain agreed and Canada won the
  right to sign treaties with a foreign country on
  their own.

9
(3) The King-Byng Crisis 1926

• King PM Mackenzie King
• Byng Gov. Gen. Julian Byng
• vs.
• King Byng

10

• Canada had a minority government at the time.
• PM King requested that another election be called
  early.
• The only person who could grant this request was
  Byng. He refused it.
• The PM accused Byng of ignoring the advice of the
  government.
• The PM said that it was a breach of responsible
  government.
• At the next Imperial Conference, PM King was
  determined to clarify the role of the Gov. Gen.

11
(4) The Balfour Report 1926

• At the next Imperial Conference.
• PM King insisted that the agenda include
  discussions on
• - the powers of the dominions
• - the relationship to each other
• - the relationship with Britain

12

• Agreements were made and became known as the
  Balfour Report.
• Dominions were declared self-governing
• They were independent nations
• They would no longer be called dominions of the
  B.E.
• They agreed to remain part of the Commonwealth
  of Nations.
• The Gov. Gen. would only be a representative of
  Britain and not an active agent.
• Canada could deal directly with Britain and not
  through the Gov. Gen.

13
(5) Foreign Embassies 1927/28

• In 1927, Canada opened its own embassy in the
  United States.
• Vincent Massey became Canadas first foreign
  diplomat.
• In 1928, Canada opened embassies in France and
  Belgium.

14
(6) Statute of Westminster 1931

• Dec 11th 1931
• British Parliament passed the Statute of
  Westminster
• This made the recommendations in the Balfour
  Report into law.
• Canada was now completely self-governing.
• Canada had its own laws. Britain could not make
  any laws for Canada.

15

• British parliament could no longer nullify laws
  in the Dominions.
• Dominions could make their own extra-territorial
  laws.
• British law no longer applied to the Dominions.