The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956
In July 1951, Canada’s Department of External Affairs despatched a secret policy paper to the heads of overseas Canadian posts, instructing Canadian diplomats abroad not to refer to Canada’s ‘inner triangle’ with Britain and the United States or encourage its development into a formal alliance. The...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UCL Press
2022-08-01
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| Series: | The London Journal of Canadian Studies |
| Online Access: | https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2021v36.007 |
| _version_ | 1797896842277552128 |
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| author | Lara C. A. Silver |
| author_facet | Lara C. A. Silver |
| author_sort | Lara C. A. Silver |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In July 1951, Canada’s Department of External Affairs despatched a secret policy paper to the heads of overseas Canadian posts, instructing Canadian diplomats abroad not to refer to Canada’s ‘inner triangle’ with Britain and the United States or encourage its development into a formal alliance. The explicitly named ‘Anglo-Saxon triangle’ was acknowledged affectionately as a ‘cornerstone of Canadian foreign policy’ but was regarded as damaging to the ultimate goal of a North Atlantic community inclusive of continental Europeans. The ‘inner triangle’ comprising Canada, the United States and Britain had to be concealed, and diplomats were warned not to speak of it publicly as an objective of policy, lest another triangle would form, that of a Franco-German–Italian grouping that would split the prospects of a North Atlantic alliance. The discovery of this secret despatch provides some explanation of why references to the North Atlantic Triangle faded from statements in the post-war years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:48:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d618d16062d84826959cbcee04ad350d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-0928 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:48:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | UCL Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The London Journal of Canadian Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-d618d16062d84826959cbcee04ad350d2023-02-23T10:25:24ZengUCL PressThe London Journal of Canadian Studies2397-09282022-08-013613315810.14324/111.444.ljcs.2021v36.007The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956Lara C. A. SilverIn July 1951, Canada’s Department of External Affairs despatched a secret policy paper to the heads of overseas Canadian posts, instructing Canadian diplomats abroad not to refer to Canada’s ‘inner triangle’ with Britain and the United States or encourage its development into a formal alliance. The explicitly named ‘Anglo-Saxon triangle’ was acknowledged affectionately as a ‘cornerstone of Canadian foreign policy’ but was regarded as damaging to the ultimate goal of a North Atlantic community inclusive of continental Europeans. The ‘inner triangle’ comprising Canada, the United States and Britain had to be concealed, and diplomats were warned not to speak of it publicly as an objective of policy, lest another triangle would form, that of a Franco-German–Italian grouping that would split the prospects of a North Atlantic alliance. The discovery of this secret despatch provides some explanation of why references to the North Atlantic Triangle faded from statements in the post-war years.https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2021v36.007 |
| spellingShingle | Lara C. A. Silver The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 The London Journal of Canadian Studies |
| title | The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 |
| title_full | The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 |
| title_fullStr | The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 |
| title_short | The ‘Anglo-Saxon Triangle’ Downplayed by Canada’s Department of External Affairs, 1946–1956 |
| title_sort | anglo saxon triangle downplayed by canada s department of external affairs 1946 1956 |
| url | https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14324/111.444.ljcs.2021v36.007 |
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