The Historical Peculiarities of Canada with Regard to Hemisphere Defense

Abstract

CANADA is the only American nation which is officially engaged as a belligerent in the present war. Her belligerency is a direct outcome of her position as a nation of the British Commonwealth. But Canada is fighting not as a colony of Great Britain but as a North American nation bound to Great Britain by ties of sentiment and sharing with her, and with the other nations of the British Empire, a common throne. The declaration of war by Great Britain on September 3, 1939, did not necessarily bind Canada to participate in hostilities. For a week Canada was considered as a possible neutral. Eire has shown that neutrality in war is apparently not incompatible with continued connection with the British Commonwealth. If General Herzog had had his way, the Union of South Africa would also have declared neutrality. As it was, President Roosevelt did not include Canada in his first neutrality proclamation issued after the outbreak of war. Even the German consul in