1. A growing independence 1920-1931
CHC2D

2. 1919
Canada becomes one of the original members of the League of Nations. Role to encourage cooperation and peace and prevent international wars.

3. 1922: The Chanak Affair
The 1922 Chanak Affair was Prime Minister King’s first major foreign policy test.
Turkish forces were threatening British troops stationed in Turkey after WWI
King declined to automatically provide Canada's military support to Britain
 King's detached attitude toward the crisis sent a message that he wanted greater independence for Canada in terms of its foreign policy.

5. The Halibut Treaty (1923)
Both Canadian and U.S. fishing boats hauled in more and more halibut each year to help feed their growing populations
Number of fish began to rapidly decline.
Slow rate of maturity also contributed to the already declining numbers
King decided that the fish populations had nothing to do with Britain and thus, refused British officials to participate.
An agreement was reached that established strict regulations with regard to the fishing season and sustainable fishing practices
This was Canada’s very first treaty with a foreign nation

6. 1924: Red Ensign
Union Jack is replaced by the new flag on all government buildings
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7. The King-Byng Affair
In the Federal Election of 1925, King’s Liberal government won fewer seats than Arthur Meighen’s Conservatives
King joined forces with the Progressives to form a government
King stepped into the Prime Ministers Office as head of the Liberal Party, and formed a minority government even though he had lost his own seat in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister
Willliam Lyon Mackenzie King

8. The King-Byng Affair
Meighen was so furious at the underhanded way that King had assumed power that he demanded King’s resignation of that office
King refused
In June of 1925, King’s government is rocked by a bribery scandal
King went to Governor-General Byng and asked him to call an election before a loss-of- confidence vote was taken
Prime Minister Arthur Meighen
(interim)
(interim)

9. The King-Byng Affair
Governor General Byng refused, arguing it was time that the Conservatives held office
King announced that the actions of Governor General Byng amounted to foreign interference in Canadian politics and resigned the Office of the Prime Minister on June 28, 1926
Sir Julian George Byng,
Governor General:

10. King-Byng Affair
As leader of the opposition, Meighen assumed the Office of the Prime Minister on the same day
Meighen government only lasted 3 days
On September 25, 1926, King defeated Meighen in a vote of confidence, and Governor General Byng was forced to dissolve Parliament and call an election
King wins a safe majority in the 1926 election by exploiting the threat to Canadian sovereignty

11. The Balfour Report 1926
King, representing Canada at the Imperial Conference in London in 1926, was determined to help his country become a self-governing nation
Conference concluded with the Balfour Report – Britain and its commonwealth countries were declared to be “autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate to one another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs though united by a common allegiance to the Crown”

13. The Statute of Westminster 1931
By 1929 Canada had set up diplomatic offices in Washington, London and Paris
This readied the path for the Statute of Westminster
On December 11, 1931 the Statute of Westminster became the last Imperial Act of the Parliament of Great Britain to affect all of the Dominions
Explicitly declared that the constitutions of the commonwealth countries on equal status with Britain
The Balfour Declaration of 1926 was incorporated, word for word, in the Statute
Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Australia, the Union of South Africa and the Irish Free State were granted legislative independence