Canada was not all as you see it be now. Behind the freedom, there was a time Canada had to face and fight to become the nation it is today. A nation that was part of the British Empire, it was only expected of Canada to be involved with whatever Britain was involved in. It was only expected of Canada to have almost every treaty or agreement with another country, approved by a Britain official. It was only expected of Canada to follow the laws and conduct that Britain had laid out for them. However, a man who carefully encouraged the country to gain independence from the British reign was named William Lyon Mackenzie King. King stood by Canada, to train it and make it another country equal to Britain. It can be determined that Mackenzie King’s contribution, as a Prime Minister, has shaped Canada’s growing autonomy from the British Empire extremely positively in the post-war years. During the Chanak Crisis, PM King took the first step towards gaining independence by refusing to provide Canadian troops to support the British military in the defending Chanak.
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During 1922, Britain along side with France and Greece, had taken over western Turkey. Britain was determined in sustaining their military force around Chanak, to protect their crisis that linked Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Britain called the support of its Dominions (consisting of Canada) when Turkey threatened the British forces that were stationed at Chanak. When Britain asked for support, Mackenzie King refused to Britain claiming that it was a decision to be made by the parliament of Canada. The decision would be made by the Canadian government on whether Canadian troops should be sent or not to support the Britain in such crisis. King didn’t show any interest nor hurry in sending troops abroad, and since the Parliament took its time, the crisis had started and finished. King wanted to send a vague message to Britain showing them that Canada wasn’t another one of their puppets. This was the first time Canada had refused to automatically support the British empire. In 1923, Canada and the United States of America were in a negotiation to protect the halibut along the Pacific Coast. This is when Prime Minister King reiterated that the treaty concerning the halibut was a matter between the United States and just Canada. Usually a treaty in which Canada is involved in, needs to have an approving signature by a Britain official. However, King did not consider that factor to be necessary. As long as Britain kept insisting that they sign the Halibut Treaty like any other treaty, King kept restating that Canada did not need Britain to be involved in signing this particular treaty. It was then when King threatened the Britain that there would be a Canadian representation in Washington, US, that the British backed down from the dispute. The Halibut Treaty was finally signed and finalized on March 2, 1923. This was known as the first treaty to be ever signed by the Canadian parliament without the British being involved. The greatest progress that Canada had ever made towards its independence from Britain was during and after the Imperial Conference. The Imperial Conference took place in 1926 in which the leaders of the countries of the British Empire came to meet and come to an agreement. This conference was
During 1922, Britain along side with France and Greece, had taken over western Turkey. Britain was determined in sustaining their military force around Chanak, to protect their crisis that linked Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Britain called the support of its Dominions (consisting of Canada) when Turkey threatened the British forces that were stationed at Chanak. When Britain asked for support, Mackenzie King refused to Britain claiming that it was a decision to be made by the parliament of Canada. The decision would be made by the Canadian government on whether Canadian troops should be sent or not to support the Britain in such crisis. King didn’t show any interest nor hurry in sending troops abroad, and since the Parliament took its time, the crisis had started and finished. King wanted to send a vague message to Britain showing them that Canada wasn’t another one of their puppets. This was the first time Canada had refused to automatically support the British empire. In 1923, Canada and the United States of America were in a negotiation to protect the halibut along the Pacific Coast. This is when Prime Minister King reiterated that the treaty concerning the halibut was a matter between the United States and just Canada. Usually a treaty in which Canada is involved in, needs to have an approving signature by a Britain official. However, King did not consider that factor to be necessary. As long as Britain kept insisting that they sign the Halibut Treaty like any other treaty, King kept restating that Canada did not need Britain to be involved in signing this particular treaty. It was then when King threatened the Britain that there would be a Canadian representation in Washington, US, that the British backed down from the dispute. The Halibut Treaty was finally signed and finalized on March 2, 1923. This was known as the first treaty to be ever signed by the Canadian parliament without the British being involved. The greatest progress that Canada had ever made towards its independence from Britain was during and after the Imperial Conference. The Imperial Conference took place in 1926 in which the leaders of the countries of the British Empire came to meet and come to an agreement. This conference was