Herbert Norman's life was closely intertwined with the evolution of Canadian diplomacy, marked by internationalism and Cold War conflict. This summary can be divided into two parts:
Part 1: From Britain to America and Wartime Experiences
History
\
Part 2: Postwar Internationalism
• After World War II, Canada's standing on the world stage had changed dramatically due to its tremendous military and economic contributions to the Allies during the war.
• Canada emerged as a wealthy country and its diplomats and civil servants became known as among the finest in the world.
• Canada's international position was unique, as it was not a major power, but not a minor player either; it was a "middle power" based on the "functional principle" devised by Herbert Norman's colleague, Hume Wrong, in 1942.
Summary:
The article discusses the role of Canada in the post-World War II era of internationalism and its contributions to the creation of various international institutions.
The article also highlights the Cold War era and how Canada was affected by the Communist red scares and the military tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.
• Canada’s role in the creation of the UN: Lester B. Pearson represented Canada at the San Francisco meeting and was elected President of the UN General Assembly in 1952.
• Canada’s contribution to international economic organizations: Canada, along with the US, helped create the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 1944-45 to regulate financial policies and provide funds for countries under financial strain. Canada also played a leading role at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rounds of tariff negotiations.
Cold War era: The US and the Soviet Union became enemies and faced each other in a battle of ideology, technology, and military might. The Communist red scares and military tensions affected Canada as well.
Communist red scares: The 1945 defection of Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet embassy clerk, uncovered a Soviet spy ring that led to Canadian and UK investigations and convictions. The victory of Communists in China in 1949 and the explosion of a Soviet atomic bomb generated fear of the Soviet threat.
History
• Military tensions and NATO: The Western powers, including Canada, created NATO in 1949, a collective security agreement designed to counter the Russian threat in Europe and elsewhere. Canada had troops in Europe as part of its NATO obligations, and Parliament decided when to commit soldiers.
Subject: The life and death of Herbert Norman
\