Lester Pearson's Peacekeeping - the Truth May Hurt by Yves Engler

Author:Yves Engler [Engler, Yves]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Americas, Canada, Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Government, International & World Politics, Canadian, Specific Topics, Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, Post-Confederation
Amazon: B007M3OVEY
Publisher: RED Publishing
Published: 2012-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

5. Riding the Atom Bomb to the Prime Minister’s Office

Despite his reputation as a peacekeeper Pearson played an important role in Canada’s nuclear journey. For starters, he promoted uranium extraction in his Algoma East riding near Sudbury, Ontario.1 More significantly, the Nobel peace laureate and the rest of the Liberal cabinet allowed the US to station nuclear weapons on Canadian soil. The first “nuclear weapons came to Canada as early as September 1950, when the USAF [Air Force] temporarily stationed eleven ‘Fat Man’- style atomic bombs at Goose Bay Newfoundland.”2 Beginning in 1952 Ottawa gave the US Strategic Air Command the okay to train in Canadian air space with nuclear-armed aircraft.3 At the same time, the US Atomic Energy Commission carried out military tests north of the border to circumvent oversight by American “watchdog committees.” As part of the agreement with Washington, Ottawa committed to prevent any investigation into the military aspects of nuclear research in Canada.4

On the diplomatic front, Pearson also supported his ally’s nuclear weapons. Just after he became external minister, in August 1948, Ottawa voted against a UN call to ban nuclear weapons and in December 1954 Pearson voted to allow NATO forces to accept tactical nuclear weapons through the alliance’s policy called MC 48, The Most Effective Pattern of NATO Military Strength for the Next Few Years.5 According to Canada and UN Peacekeeping, Pearson “was integral to the process by which MC 48 was accepted by NATO.”6

During his time as foreign minister Canada always voted with the US on nuclear policy in disarmament talks.7 Pearson and Canada’s Role in Nuclear Disarmament and Arms Control Negotiations 1945-1957 explains: “Pearson consistently supported the increase in Western nuclear might” and he “believed that the United States needed all the military hardware it could acquire.”8 In early 1956 External Affairs ruled out banning nuclear tests in this country because they “improve[ed] our nuclear defense potential.”9

Any disagreement Pearson had with Washington’s nuclear policy at a five-country (USSR, US, France, Britain and Canada) disarmament commission set up in 1954 was kept quiet.10 Author Joseph Levitt reports: “So great was his desire to ensure American nuclear supremacy over the Soviet Union that he agreed to policies” he ostensibly opposed.11 Levitt also details how Pearson used nuclear disarmament negotiations to score anti-Soviet propaganda points.12 No matter the responsibility, he blamed failed negotiations on the Soviets. Privately, Pearson referred to “the propaganda advantages which we might expect to gain either if the negotiations were resumed or by demonstrating publicly that it is the Russians and not we who are dragging our feet on this issue.”13 On another occasion he tried to place “upon the Russians the burden of refusing [an agreement].”14

On an issue of domestic interest Pearson repeatedly lied. The book Canadian Nuclear Weapons describes one instance where he was “guilty of significantly stretching the truth.”15 On another occasion he said Canada had not “acquired” nuclear weapons, even though more than 150 Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft in Europe carried them.16 In 1954 Pearson lied

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