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Great Changes in the World
Outside of Canada, the world was changing, with new powers emerging and bringing out new possible challenges. (Cook, p. 245) Although unknown at the time, the future Axis powers of the Second World War were becoming more powerful. (Cook, p. 245) In 1931, Japan began to arm itself and conquered Manchuria, creating an insecure environment in Asia. (Cook, p.245) Germany was re-armed through Adolf Hitlers power, and Italy, under Benito Mussolini, attempting to create an empire. (Cook, p.246-247) -
The Great Depression Puts Canada in a Vulnerable Position
The Great Depression greatly affected Canada, with one third of the Canadian workforce unemployed and many farmers losing their farms, and therefore, their livelihoods, as said by Tim Cook in his novel Warlords: Borden, Mackenzie King, and Canada's World Wars. (p. 238) This put Canada in a precarious position, in need of a serious boost to the economy. -
Canada's Place in the League of Nations is Unsure
Canadian politicians were unsure how to approach the situation in Europe, with O.D. Skelton, undersecretary, being of the position that Canada should not take on sanctions because it would lead to war. (Cook, 249) Others, such as W.A. Riddell, continued to push for sanctions in order to take a firm stand against Italy and Germany. (Cook, p. 252) -
Canada Attends the Imperial Conference
Britain was worried about what had become an impending war with Germany, and called upon the Dominions of the Commonwealth to meet in order to prepare for the possibility of war. (Cook, p. 263) Mackenzie King was eager to find a way to escape being forced into war at Britain's bidding, trying to avoid dragging Canada into war at any cost. (Cook, 264-265) Mackenzie King therefore backed the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who wanted a policy of appeasing Nazi Germany. (Cook, 266) -
The Munich Agreement: Further Attempts to Avoid War
By March of 1938, Hitler had annexed Austria, causing intense re-arming of the Allies, though they still wanted to avoid war. (Cook, 272) In another attempt to forestall war, Neville Chamberlain negotiated The Munich Agreement, which awarded Hitler much of Czechoslovakia, rationalized as a way to save the lives that would be lost if the Allies did go to war against Germany. (Cook, 272-273) -
Mackenzie King Privately Accepts the Possibility of War
Chamberlain had bought a reprieve through the Munich Agreement, making Mackenzie King and the general Canadian population happy at the promise of peace, if only for a moment. (Cook, 273) However, Mackenzie King realized that there was the looming possibility that Hitler wouldn't stop after taking Czechoslovakia. (Cook, 274) Because of this, and his unwavering feelings of Imperial duty, that he wrote in his diary that Canada would support Britain if they were called to war. (Cook, 274) -
Europe Prepares For War
European nations and their governments began to prepare for war, assuming that Hitler would not be stopped with the award of the Sudetenland, and would continue to conquer other regions. (Cook, 279) While Europe was re-arming itself, Canada dallied-with its army, navy, and airforce severely lacking in readiness for any sort of combat. (Cook, 279) Mackenzie King felt that if Canada began to prepare for war, it would come, and so put it off as much as he could. (Cook, 275) -
Canada Begins to Re-Arm
Slowly but surely, and despite his misgivings, Mackenzie King gave into pressures and began to upgrade Canada's navy, under the guise of providing coastal defence. (Cook, 278) Mackenzie King, however, was unable to add to the Canadian army, and continued to put off the practicalities of preparing for war. (Cook, 278-279) Appeasing Hitler through the Munich Agreement had given the Allies time to prepare, but Canada wasted that time refusing to face the impending war. (Cook, 279-280) -
Canada Publicly Prepares for War
Canada had buried its head in the sand throughout the 1930s, but as 1939 began it was forced to face the obvious-war was coming. (Cook, 283) While he had stalled as much as possible, Mackenzie King no longer had the choice and publicly declared the Canadian government's intended support for Britain if she were to go to war, and explained the growing defence budget. (Cook, 284) Canada now began to earnestly prepare for war. (Cook, 285) -
Britain Declares War
After Adolf Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, war became a reality. (Cook, 289) This was the last straw for the Allies, who now believed that the only way to stop Hitler from conquering all of Europe was to engage in an all out war. (Cook, 290) Britain declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939 because they had promised to save Poland from German invasion, they were forced to act. (Cook, 291) -
Canada Declares War
Canada was divided, some believed that Canada acted immediately with Britain, others that they acted alone but in war nonetheless, and others still that Canada should stay out of the war. (Cook, 292) Mackenzie King clung to his motto "Parliament will decide," until the end, calling Parliament for September 7. (Cook, 294) On September 10, 1939 Canada officially declared war on Germany in defence of the Empire as well as itself and its ideals. (Cook, 306-307)