THE WAR & SOVEREIGNTY
Canada made significant contributions to the Allies through WW1.
P.M. Borden expected more communication between Britain & Canada.
Borden wasn’t consulted on war policy/planning despite traveling to Britain several times.
Borden was expected to rely on the press for news of the war (like a britain/canadian citizen).
Britain elected a new P.M. that brought significant change in british policy toward Canada & the other dominions. (NFLD, South Africa, NZLD, Australia).
B.P.M. believed in order to defeat the triple alliance, the allies needed more help from the dominions.
The B.P.M. brought the P.M. 's from various dominions to meet in London to form an imperial war cabinet (I.W.C).
P.M. Borden was happy with the I.W.C. Made up of reps from Canada & other dominions.
When the I.W.C. First met, they discussed war policy.
Borden was finally allowed to access war documents he previously wasn’t allowed to.
Borden presented Resolution IX to the I.W.C.
which gave them recognition as autonomous nations of an Imperial commonwealth & the resolution was passed.
EMPTY PROMISES
Despite the political advances, Canada still didn’t have a say in war campaigns involving their troops.
Serious reservations about the issue of Passchendaele were ignored.
Which made a mad Borden to advise the B.P.M. if there was a repeat of the battle of Passchendaele no canadian soldier will leave to fight unless they trust the gov of Canada to him.
When the I.W.C met again the B.P.M suggested a committee of P.M. 's to examine the war effort.
But the war ended before they could start.
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
The war ended and the treaty of Versailles was drafted and signed at the Paris peace conference.
The terms of the treaty were harsh: they had to give up their colonies, be forced to limit the size of their army, and pay the allies reparations. (these all were the compensation to the victors).
There was division in the community due to conscription.
Borden believed during the war years Canadians matured.
Canada was a major participant in the war; lots of canadians died overseas. (Canada made major sacrifices).
The Canadian Expeditionary Force had earned a distinguished record.
Due to Bordens pride for Canada’s wartime record & sense of nationalism, he demanded a seat at the Paris Peace Conference and got it.
But Canada barely played a role in the negotiations & Britain signed the treaty of Versailles for the whole of the Britain Empire.
P.M. Borden insisted that Canada should sign the treaty separately.
TOWARD POST-WAR AUTONOMY
Canada continued to gain autonomy over its own foreign affairs post-war.
The League of Nations was formed to preserve international peace (1919).
To prevent war, 44 nations said if 1 member were to attack another then it would be as if that 1 member attacked all 44 members.
That would lead to economic sanctions & military force against the aggressor.
Canada joined the L.O.N. which gained them recognition for not simply being a colony of Britains. (Even though they were unsuccessful).
Canadian officials worked to eliminate the collective security terms from the league charter, arguing that a small country like Canada should have the right to decide to be involved in military actions.
Canada also became a member of the International Labour Organization (agency of the L.O.N.)
P.M. Borden resigned from government due to his insistent doctor.
Borden was replaced with Arthur Meighen, he led Canada for one year post-war economic depression.
Then William Lyon Mackenzie King became the next P.M. (from the liberal party).
He wanted more autonomy for Canada just like the past P.M.’s.
THE CHANAK AFFAIR
WW1 taught Borden (& his successors) to not get involved in foreign entanglements.
Where the fate of Canadians relied too much on the decisions from another country.
The real indignation of P.M. King’s pursuit of autonomy was the Chanak affair.
A small group of British soldiers had been threatened by Turkish nationalist forces in Canakkale (known to the British as Chanak).
Britain sent a telegram to the colonies calling them to contribute soldiers to assist British troops if a conflict should begin.
King said that Canada would no longer automatically send troops to aid Britain in foreign conflicts.
It was a matter to be decided by a vote in the Canadian parliament.
The crisis in Canakkale soon passed but once again signaled the Canadian desire to control its own foreign policy decisions.
THE HALIBUT TREATY
After WW1 halibut stocks off the pacific coast of Canada & the US became endangered by overfishing.
In early 1923, Canadian & American representatives negotiated a treaty to set limits on catches in the fishing season.
Britain’s ambassador in Washington wanted to sign the agreement alongside Canada and the US.
But P.M. King said that this matter is solely for the US & Canada. (Britain strongly objected).
But when Canada threatened to appoint an independent diplomatic representative in Washington, Britain conceded.
In the end, Canada signed the treaty independently.
THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCES
The imperial conferences were regular meetings of government leaders from the colonies & dominions of the British empire.
The conferences took place at the invitation of Britain.
To make decisions on economic, trade and defense policies.
Before WW1 the colonies of the empire had to follow british-approved policies formed at the conferences.
During WW1 P.M. Borden tried to ensure that Canada influenced decisions made at the conferences.
After WW1, P.M. King insisted upon more autonomy.
When he went to the 1923 imperial conference after signing the halibut treaty, he was firm in arguing his views.
Britain agreed to accept the halibut treaty as an example for its dominions having power to make their own treaties.
P.M. King’s demand the 1923 conference report concluded with the statement that any views of the imperial conference on foreign policy are supposed to be approved by the parliament before being implemented.
(when the imperial conferences made decisions for the colonies, they didn’t have to implement it until it was approved by the parliament from that colony/dominion).
STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER
The British parliament passed the statute of westminster.
This document stated that Canada and other commonwealth dominions weren’t inferior to Britain's constitution.
Canada was able to make its own foreign policy decisions without Britain's approval.
Canada had full legal freedom except the area’s they chose to have British control over.
Canada chose to keep the judicial committee of the privy council as its final court. (until 1949).
But after 1949 the supreme court of canada took over that role.
Due to the federal and provincial governments not agreeing with their relative roles in changing the BNA act.
Britain retained control over constitutional changes.
The statute of Westminster was a significant landmark in the history of Canada.
Signaled Canada's growing maturity as a nation.
Canada can’t change their own constitution. (until 1982).