Imperial Twilight?
In past numbers of bout de papier, we have printed extracts from papers in the major project spearheaded by Escott Reid, a “Re-Examination of Canadian Foreign Policy (1951-52).” The intent of the series was to provide reference works as overall guidance for…
O.D. Skelton
Those who glance at the historic plaque dedicated to Oscar Douglas Skelton in the Skelton Lobby of the Pearson Building may ask themselves what else there was in the life of this long-departed figure of External Affairs lore. After many years of…
Middle Power at Mid-Century
In the early 1950s, deputy under-secretary of state for external affairs, Escott Reid, inspired and led an ambitious project to produce a series of thematic papers “to focus and clarify our longer-range thinking on the objectives and the application of Canadian foreign…
Precedents and Precedence
The late John Starnes was a great supporter of bout de papier and a frequent contributor. He also generously shared insights and documents accumulated in a lifetime of public service at home and abroad. Mr. Starnes also had a keen eye for…
Performance Anxiety?
As promised (or threatened) in previous issues of bout de papier, we are now publishing the third and final installment of the “McGill Report” on the role of the Department of External Affairs. As with the earlier extracts, this one was distributed…
Flora MacDonald
Flora MacDonald had a very real love and fascination for the Middle East and for all of its people. She had been inspired as a youngster by the letters of an uncle who died in Mesopotamia with a British regiment fighting the…
How others (in Ottawa) see us
In an earlier issue (bout de papier, Vol. 28, No. 4) we looked at the terms of reference and a town hall meeting that launched the “McGill Report” on the role of the Department of External Affairs in August 1975. As part…
What in the world (and in Ottawa) is the Department of External Affairs doing?
Canada’s foreign ministry was trying to cope with a prime minister who openly questioned its role, its commitment to the government’s agenda, its effectiveness and whether its results justified the expenses associated with international diplomacy. At the same time, it was unsure…
An End to Diplomacy
While their colleagues in northwestern Europe had fled their missions ahead of the advancing forces of Nazi Germany, often in harrowing and difficult circumstances and with little opportunity to prepare for their departure, the experience of the Canadian Legation and other Allied…
Geoffrey Bruce
Editor’s Note: The following is adapted from the tribute by Paul Heinbecker at the Memorial Service held to celebrate Geoffrey Bruce’s life (St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church on September 23, 2014).
