Canada: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: Embarrassing

Canadians are well aware that by geography, politics and the facts of trade Canada is part of the Western Hemisphere’s family of nations. And yet, like the prewar U.S. isolationists, they hate to admit it. That was why suggestions that Canada sign the hemispheric defense treaty drawn up at Petropolis (see LATIN AMERICA) were so embarrassing. The thought of joining with the Pan American Union set off a rash of Canadian rationalization:

¶The Ottawa Citizen: “Such a [defense] pact is obviously useful both to the United States and to the South American nations. But it would make complications for Canada. This Dominion has its own defense understanding with the British Commonwealth and the United States. No treaties are needed to assure us that in the event of an attack upon our shores the British Dominions and the United States would spring to our assistance. . . .”

¶Vincent Massey, former High Commissioner to London, in Maclean’s: “Our position will remain more dignified and also more effective by maintaining our own special relations with [the U.S.] than by assimilating our position to that of a group of 20 republics. . . . Let us cultivate good relations with Latin America in our own way and not as a cog in the Pan American machine. . . .”

The Ottawa Journal: “In a Pan American Union, Canada would almost inevitably side with the United States. Doing so, we should incite South American suspicion; have the Latin Republics believe that we were part of a North American bloc . . . subservient to a ‘big stick’ from Washington. Better . . . [to] be regarded as neutral, or, better still, as a friend.”

A few Canadians thought Canada had her head in the sand. Said the Montreal Gazette: “Elementary geographical considerations dictate the significance that the Petrópolis treatymakers will attach to Canada’s signature to the hemispheric defense act. Without Canadian acceptance . . . the pact will be largely ineffective except as a statement of good intention.”