Canada 1896-1921 by Robert Craig Brown

Author:Robert Craig Brown [Brown, Robert Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 2016-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

IV

Just after taking office, the Borden government took pains to assure the United States that the result of the election did not mean the beginning of an era of hostility in Canadian-American relations. Reciprocity had been rejected, but good relations with the United States remained important to Canada. Soon, the Canadian representatives on the International Joint Commission were appointed and began their work. The encouragement of American investment in Canadian industrial development continued. Wisely, the contentious tariff issue was left at rest during 1912, an election year in the neighbouring republic. Then, in 1913, the victorious Wilsonian Democrats passed the Underwood Tariff, indirectly granting to Canada many of the concessions gained in the abortive 1911 agreement. All in all, a mood of sweet amiability prevailed in Ottawa. As the United States Consul General reported, “Mr. Borden, Mr. White and other members of the Cabinet are taking considerable pains to express friendliness to the United States. I have no doubts of the genuineness of their feeling.”71

Just as quickly, the Prime Minister hinted at a new approach to the Canadian-American relationship. For Canada the bilateral relationship was important, but even more crucial was her place in the Ottawa-Washington-London diplomatic triangle. Anglo-American accord was the key to Canada’s well-being. In the past Canada’s passivity had seemed to result in Anglo-American understanding at the sacrifice of Canadian interests. But it did not need to be that way. A more active Canadian policy, based upon the assumptions that Canada knew Washington better than London and London better than Washington and could successfully mediate between them, would at once provide insurance against the future sacrifice of Canadian interests and serve a useful function in the Anglo-American relationship. As early as November 1911, Borden put the case in a Halifax speech.

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