1. Appeasement and the Second World War

2. Appeasement
This policy was intended to avoid another major military conflict
Mackenzie King liked appeasement because it suited his goal of avoiding international commitments (Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, the Manchurian crisis)
Appeasement does not work, Sept. of 1939 WWII begins

3. Canada’s Role The Statue of Westminster (1931)
Canada now can make decisions on their foreign policy
King wanted the parliament to decide
Sept. 10 Canada declares war on Germany

4. Contributions Canada is the principle ally of Britain
The industrial sector switches to war production, which decreases unemployment
Troops were directly involved in Dieppe, Normandy and the liberation of the Netherlands
Despite the contributions Canada was left out of the military decision making

5. The War at Home In 1941 the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
This will change the relationship between Canada and the United States
Ethnic groups in Canada were singled out and put into internment camps
Japanese Canadians lost all of their possessions and were moved inland
Many lost all they had and some were even split up

6. Some Arguments in Favour of Internment
It is not the same thing as Nazi Germany
It looks the same

7. Some Arguments in Favour of Internment
People were not mistreated in Canada and the United States
He wants to be dragged

8. Some Arguments in Favour of Internment
It is to protect the country
A Suspected Japanese Agent in Canada

9. Questions
How far should the Canadian government be allowed to go to protect the country?
Was it necessary to put Japanese Canadians in Internment camps?

10. King, National Unity, and the War
With the surrender of the French the fall of Britain seemed inevitable
This was especially troubling to the Americans who feared the prospect of a Nazi dominated Europe
FDR called for meeting with Prime Minister King on the issue of North American defence

11. King, National Unity, and the War
These meetings were held at Ogdensburg, New York
The general feeling was that the Nazi threat called for a closer relationship with the United States
The idea was proposed to King who quickly agreed
The Ogdensburg Agreement led to the creation of the Permanent Joint Board on Defence

12. King, National Unity, and the War
The agreement gave strategic control of the Canadian force to the Americans in the event of a British defeat
Roosevelt even asked King to make arrangements for the Royal Navy to be sent to Canada in the event that the Nazis conquered Britain
This only enraged Churchill

13. King, National Unity, and the War
Many people applauded this move but several imperialist felt that Canada had abandoned Britain and sold-out to the United States
By 1941 the military situation was less desperate
Britain held her own
Germans were consolidating

14. King, National Unity, and the War
Canada began to reassert itself
A new plan was discussed that addressed the situation that would arise should the United States enter the war
Canada was unwilling to place its military under the Americans in this situation
The question of sovereignty was raised again with the Lend-Lease system

15. King, National Unity, and the War
Under the Lend -Lease system the United States would provide war materials to any country whose defeat would endanger the security of the USA
The materials would then be paid for after the war
King refused to place Canada in that financial burden

16. King, National Unity, and the War
The President and Prime Minister met to discuss other options at Hyde Park, NY
The Hyde Park agreement stated that materials given to Canada for export to Britain would be placed on the British Lend-Lease Account
This moved Canada farther from Britain and closer to the Americans

17. Overview
The early years of World War Two raised questions as to the sovereignty of the nation
The United States became a major factor in Canadian affairs
Canada tried to carve out a role as a middle power
Canadians seemed to be walking a fine line as to their sovereignty

18. Overview
The Ogdensburg Agreement seemed to give control of Canada to the United States
Hyde Park seemed to increase Canadian sovereignty
This would again be tested on Dec. 7, 1941