Bridgewater Review

Volume 3 | Issue 3 Article 8

Dec-1985 The lephE ant and the Mouse: Canada and the United States John F. Myers Bridgewater State College

Mary H. Myers Bridgewater State College

Recommended Citation Myers, John F. and Myers, Mary H. (1985). The Elephant and the Mouse: Canada and the United States. Bridgewater Review, 3(3), 12-15. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol3/iss3/8

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Elephant and the Mouse: Canada & the United States

John F. Myers and Mary H. Myers

or many Americans, Canada is not a Throughout their history, Canadians become Fenians, a group dedicated to Irish F very interesting country. We may link have been constantly aware of the Repub­ independence from Britain. The Fenians Canada with some familiar signposts -- the lic to the South. In 1775 the American attacked Canada in dozens of generally Mounties, the Eskimos, the Quebec separa­ Revolution spilled over into Canada as the unsuccessful raids along the border from tist movement, the Trudeaus, the 1985 Americans seized Montreal and tried to Maine to Michigan. The Fenian raids were Toronto Blue Jays. We probably look capture Quebec City. During the War of important in convincing hitherto sceptical upon Canada as some vague place to the 1812 Canada received the brunt of Ameri­ Canadians that the only hope of protection north of us, cold and snowy, the source of can hostility toward Britain, being invaded from invasion was a strong, united the Montreal Express that makes our by the United States at various points Canada. evertheless, after this era, Can­ winters bitter, but a place that is basically along the border, particularly along the adian fear of military invasion from the like our own in most other regards, and so lew York State frontier. Although success­ United States generally ceased. And as the not worthy of much regard. Sondra ful in repelling the Americans, Canada dangers of military incursion waned, econ­ Gotlieb, the wife of the present Canadian became very sensitive to her own weakness omic and cultural encroachment from the ambassador to the United States, has said as contrasted to the growing power of the United States increased. that "for some reason, a glaze passes over United States. Other threats of invasion Much Canadian-American interaction people's faces when you say ·Canada.' " came after the two 1837 rebellions in in the last decades of the nineteenth cen­ Canada and Canadian concerns have rare­ Canada. Frustrated reformers broke into tury was economically motivated. Canada ly had any priority for the American armed revolt in both Upper and Lower wished for a treaty allowing a free flow of people or the American government. Canada, now Quebec and Ontario. "Free­ goods, like the Treaty of 1854, which the On the other hand, Canadians are neces­ dom fighters" and adventurers from a­ United States had abrogated in 1866. All sarily familiar with things American, due round the world, especially from the Canadian governments were unsuccessful chiefly to the influence of the mass media. United States, wished to help rebel Can­ in their efforts to achieve such a treaty. Proximity helps account for familiarity: adians cast off the yoke of imperial Britain. Consequently, Canada became protection­ eighty percent of Canada's citizens live At about this time, the Maine-New Bruns­ ist and raised her own tariff walls. This within a hundred miles of the U.S. border. wick border erupted in a mostly verbal reaction on the part of Canada led those Great numbers of Canadians vacation in clash over the boundary line. Troops and American businesses which wished to the United States, especially the vacation funds were raised. No actual invasion break into the Canadian domestic market spots of Florida, Old Orchard Beach and resulted from either of these two incidents. to make a run around the tariff walls by Cape Cod. The desire for economic better­ However, certain border areas of Canada establishing branch plants in Canada. This ment has caused thousands of Canadians still bristle with fortifications of the pre­ infusion of United States industry into to emigrate to the United States, especially 1860 era, built to protect Canada from the Canada at the beginning of the twentieth in the period from the 1850s through the United States. century continued until by the 1960s the I920s. Many Canadian workers belong to Another potential military threat to Can­ Canadian people became greatly alarmed American unions and many work for Am­ ada from the United States arose during by the degree of foreign ownership of erican multinational companies. Parallel­ the Civil War. Because of official British Canadian industry. The official Canadian ing the familiarity that the Canadian peo­ sympathy for the Confederacy, rumors of response was to attempt some buy-backs ple have with the United States is the high invasion ran wild along the border in 1864. through the Canadian Development Corp­ priority that the Canadian government has The only actual invasion, however, was oration and to screen future foreign devel­ traditionally placed upon Canada's rela­ made by Confederate agents who invaded opment by establishing the Foreign Invest­ tionship with the United States. Former and looted St. Albans, Vermont, crossing ment Review Agency (F.I.R.A.). either Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau used the into the U.S. from Quebec -- the "St. of these bodies has ever been exactly analogy of an elephant and a mouse in Albans Raid." When the Confederacy was draconian in its actions. Yet the United describing the two countries. While the defeated, the Canadians feared that the States industrial interests were mightily United States does not have to be overly victorious Northern armies would march offended by whatever weak efforts the concerned about the mouse, Canada, as north into Canada. Such a fear proved Canadians mounted, Congress even threat­ Trudeau stressed, must, "no matter how groundless, because the Northern armies ening economic retaliation. The present friendly and even-tempered the beast, be were disbanded as speedily as possible. Conservative government of Mulroney op­ affected by every twitch and grunt." However, many veterans of Irish origin did poses these earlier policies and is encour-

12 aging the United States to invest more in wanted. According to historian Henry tion. which are not involved in the Canada. Adams, "When Canada raises a bristle, relations of the United States with Cultural matters have been another area Theodore Roosevelt roars like a Texas nations beyond the seas. We may of concern to Canadians as they view their steer and romps around the ring screaming have not always recognized that in relationship with the United States. Ameri­ for instant war and ordering a million men the past, but that must be our view­ can movies, radio and television have had to arms." After the first effort at com­ point in the future. Say that for me great influence on the Canadians. In the promise failed, Prime Minister Sir Wilfred to the people ofCanada, with all the 1950s an extensive self-study of Canadian Laurier told the Canadian Governor Gen­ earnestness and sincerity of my culture was undertaken with the intention eral (the head of State representing the heart. of correcting the poverty of Canadian British monarch), "I like the Americans. The new Speaker of the House, James cultural identity. This study, the Massey But I would like them more if they were not Beauchamp Clark, inadvertently almost Report, provided for monies to be fun­ so intensely selfish and grasping." The killed the new reciprocity treaty when he neled into higher education, the arts and Alaska Tribunal decided in favor of the announced in the U. S. House, "I am for it music. Nevertheless, Canadians continue United States on most of the critical issues. (the treaty) because I hope to see the day to favor Hollywood. Efforts have been After bullying his ~ay to success in the when the American flag will float over made in the past twenty years to esrablish boundary matter, which served to embitter every square foot of the British North quotas requiring that a American possessions certain percentage of clear to the North Pole!" Canadian-produced rad­ Clark was nicknamed io, TV and movies be "Champ" in the United distributed in Canada. States, but was called The personalities of "Chump" in Canada af­ government leaders have ter his speech. Although been very important in a favorable vote followed U.S.-Canadian relations. in the U.S. Congress, the Sometimes the leaders Canadian public was un­ have liked each other; derstandably frightened sometimes not. When the with the implications of first Canadian Prime such rhetoric. Minister, Sir John A. Taft tried to undo the MacDonald, made his adverse impact that first official trip to Wash­ Clark's speech had on ington in 1870, the U.S. Canadians by stating government did not both­ that "no thought of fu­ er to send a representa­ ture political annexation tive to meet him at the or union was in the minds train station. This rude ofthe negotiators on eith­ reception seemed to set er side. Canada is now an unofficial precedent and will remain a polit­ for the low esteem in ical unit." Later Taft, in a which many U.S. heads William Lyon Mackenzie speech to newspaper edi­ of state would hold tors in New York, la­ Canadian leaders. Laurier against the United States, Roose­ belled talk of an'nexation "bosh," and Teddy Roosevelt typified such treat­ velt became more admiring of Canada, its added that "Canada is a great strong ment during the Alaskan Boundary Dis­ government and its potential. youth, anxious to test his muscles, rejoic­ pute, which arose in 1898 after the dis­ Roosevelt's successor, William Howard ing in the race he is ready to run." Al­ covery of gold in the Klondike. Motivated Taft, was the first U.S. President to rent though the United States continued to by its desire to control access from the vacation property in Canada, in Murray declare that annexation of Canada was not Pacific to the gold-fields, the Canadian Bay, Quebec. Taft was also the first Presi­ in its mind, Canada was seriously con­ government re-examined the Anglo-Rus­ dent to accept the long-sought Canadian cerned. Sensitive to the theme of the Clark sian Treaty of 1825, which specified the goal of free trade with the United States. speech, Laurier was placed on the de­ boundary between Alaska and Canada. Taft met with the Canadian Governor fensive in his own country. In the parli­ The United States had inherited the Rus­ General, Earl Grey, and the Canadian amentary elections of 1911, Robert Bor­ sian rights under the treaty when it pur­ Finance minister, and left them the fol­ den, leader of the Conservatives, warned chased Alaska from Russia in 1867 and, lowing stirring message: Canadians "to cast a soberly considered although the boundary had never been I am profoundly convinced that and serious vote for the preservation ofour accurately surveyed, for 73.years Canada these two countries, touching each heritage, for the maintenance of our com­ had been effectively barred access to the other for more than three thousand mercial and political freedom, for the sea. Throughout the controversy Roose­ miles, have common interests in permanence of Canada as an autonomous velt never hesitated to insist in public that trade and require special arrange­ nation of the British Empire." Fear of the the United States would get what it ments in legislation and administra- United States was a major factor contri-

13 The Elephant and the Mouse continued

buting to the defeat of the seemingly strong offended by Kennedy in countless ways, Liberals and the hoped-for goal of free usually over trivial issues such as a new trade with the United States. painting of the War of 1812 in the White The new Prime Minister, Robert House. which offended the Prime Minister Borden, worked to reaffirm Canadian because it reminded him of the war In good will with the United States in spite of which the United States had invaded Cana­ the negative Canadian sentiment signified da. Kennedy publicly needled Diefen­ by the election. Borden served as Prime baker. He criticized his French. deliberate­ Minister for much of the second decade of ly mispronounced his name, and even belit­ the twentieth century, which included four tled Diefenbaker's skill as an angler, which years of World War I. He had to battle was the must hurtful jab of all, Diefen­ President Woodrow Wilson into allowing baker being very proud of his fishing Canada to be admitted as a participant in talents. He later referred to Kennedy as the peace treaty after the war. Borden "that boastful son ofa bitch." On one of his found Wilson "very tiresome"and "obstin­ several trips to Ottawa, Kennedy lost a ate as a mule." The British had to remind one-page document entitled "What We the United States that Canada, with only Want from Ottawa Trip." Diefenbaker ten percent of the United States' popula­ found it and kept it. calling it "abrasive." tion, had lost more men in combat than Diefenbaker refused to involve Canada had the United States. In arguing for in the Organization of American States Canada's well-earned right to be part of the (OAS), which Canada still has not joined. peace treaty process, Borden wrote that Neither would he join the nuclear camp, "the people of Canada will not tamely except for peaceful applications of nuclear submit to a dictator which declares that power. The last straw for Diefenbaker was Liberia or Cuba, Panama or Hejaz, Haiti Kennedy's friendship with Lester B. Pear­ or Ecuador must have a higher place." son, the Leader of the Opposition. Diefen­ Borden did prevail, and Canada became an Lester Bowles Pearson baker felt that the White House was out to independent signatory to the peace treaty get him. In fact. when he was defeated by and also played a part in the formulation of Pearson's Liberals, the Kennedy White the League of ations. Probably the lowest point House staff reportedly joked and cheered. One of the most interesting relationships Lester B. Pearson and Kennedy got in the years since Confederation was the in U.S.-Canadian relations along famously. Pearson was invited to friendship between Franklin D. Roosevelt came during the short Hyannisport often, and he swapped base­ and William Lyon Mackenzie King in the ball stories with the Kennedy crowd. But it ten years, 1935-1945, that they were leaders time John F. Kennedy was was not the same with Lyndon Johnson, of their respective countries. Their only President and John whose style was radically different from common bond was their association with Kennedy's. A weekend at The Ranch was Harvard, which FDR had attended as an Diefenbaker was Prime far more hectic than one spent on Cape undergraduate, and King as a doctoral Minister. Cod. Johnson treated Pearson as one of student. Although not at Harvard at the the family, sharing much with the Prime same time, they still felt an affinity as Minister, including any top-secret tele­ college buddies. Furthermore, Roosevelt gram whichjust happened to arrive -- even had a warm feeling toward Canada from messages from the battlefield in Vietnam. his many years vacationing on Campo­ signatures, only a "Done by Mackenzie As Pearson later described it, "It was quite bello Island, off the coast of Maine in New and FDR on a grand Sunday in April." unlike anything that could have happened Brunswick. King, as his diary attests, felt All did not always proceed so cordially, at any other place in any other meeting comfortable with FDR. FDR made more however. Probably the lowest point in between leaders of government." One not­ official visits to Canada than any other U.S.-Canadian relations came during the able incident in 1965 that for the moment President, while King became a virtual short time John F. Kennedy was President disrupted the otherwise amiable associa­ lodger in the White House. During this and John Diefenbaker was Prime Mini­ tion between the two leaders was sparked period, relations between the United States ster. The American leader was bright, byaspeechthat Pearson gave atTemple Univer­ and Canada matured into respectful soph­ young, sophisticated, self-assured, while sity. criticizing the U.S. policy in Vietnam. istication, due in large part to the neces­ the Canadian was rural, evangelical and An enraged Johnson invited the errant sities of World War II. Much of our unsure. Diefenbaker was a spellbinding Prime Minister to Camp David where he present-day economic and military inter­ orator, the champion of the little man, the berated him. In a characteristic outburst, dependence resulted from agreements be­ great raconteur, and the outstanding parlia­ the President grabbed the Prime Minister tween FDR and King reached at Ogdens­ mentarian. But suddenly it was Kennedy by the collar, twisted, and lifted the smaller burg, New York, in 1940 and at Hyde who was galvanizing the world, and Diefen­ man off the ground, shouting "You've Park, New York, in 1941. The meetings baker was jealous. pissed on my rug!" Although the incident were informal and without advisors. The The two men managed to irritate each was kept quiet for some time and Pearson Hyde Park agreement bore no official other almost constantly. Diefenbaker was never mentioned it in his memoirs, it

14 became public knowledge after the deaths satisfied to become just another U.S. com­ and the U.S., some of which may never be of the two leaders. petitor. onetheless, as a public figure, worked out. Pierre Eliot Trudeau, who was Prime ixon was very popular in Canada. Cana­ As long as two such countries exist side Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1984 dians were impressed with his vast fund of by side, problems are unavoidable. The except for a few months in 1979-80, was information and his ability to give brilliant United States will probably remain the unlike any of his predecessors. As historian speeches without notes. elephant and Canada the mouse (although Lawrence Martin writes, Reagan was another matter. Trudeau perhaps Canada would rather be the Trudeau was a Harvard man, an held Reagan in low regard, and even set moose), and perceptions of each other will intellectual, an internationalist, an aside the customary respect with which he continue to be at odds. Living as she does athletic, cultured man with a play­ treated American leaders. His jibes were in the shadow of a superpower, Canada boy aspect. For John Kennedy he the sharpest of any delivered by a Cana­ will always be sensitive about her independ­ would have been splendid ... But it dian Prime Minister toward a U.S. Presi­ ence and identity. Prime Minister Mul­ was Trudeau s misfortune to face a dent. In a meeting before the opening of roney, in a recent speech to the House of streak of incompatibles or near-in­ the 1981 Ottawa economic summit, Tru­ Commons in Ottawa, summed up Cana­

compatibles u LBJ, Nixon, Carter, deau made it clear, both to the media and dian resolve when he assured the members Reagan. to President Reagan, that he, Trudeau, that although free trade was Canada's goal In spite of his opinion of his counterparts was running the meeting, and that the in upcoming discussions with the United in the United States, Trudeau remained President would have the opportunity to States, "our national sovereignty, our inde­ respectful and orthodox. Nevertheless, give his views when the next summit was pendence and our cultural integrity will with his usual political acuity, it was in held in Washington. When, at a meeting in never be touched." Washington that Trudeau developed his Europe of the heads of NATO govern­ famous elephant and mouse analogy, al­ ments, a reporter asked Reagan a question, John F. Myers luded to earlier, which aptly described the Trudeau broke in and shouted, "Don't ask Associate Professor of History ever-cautious eye with which Canada re­ him n ask AI," meaning Secretary of State Mary H. Myers gards the United States. Alexander Haig. Associate Librarian During his long tenure as Prime Mini­ President Reagan has found a more ster, Trudeau frequently adopted strong kindred soul in Prime Minister Brian Mul­ positions concerning the United States. roney, whose Conservative government Selected Bibliography With the creation of the National Energy succeeded Trudeau's Liberal government Bothwell. Drummond. and English. Canada Since 1945: Power, Politics and Policy, restrictions were placed upon those in the elections of 1984. Much was made of Provincialism. Toronto: niversity of Toronto Canadian energy resources which could be their common Irish heritage at the recent Press. 1981. sold south of the border. The Federal "Shamrock Summit"in Quebec. Both men Craig, Gerald M. The United States and Canada. Investment Review Act was passed, cre­ are strong advocates of free trade, and this Cambridge. MA: Harvard University Press. 1968. ating a watch-dog agency to examine new will continue to be the big issue between Doran. and Sigler. eds. Canada and the United States: foreign economic encroachment and to the two countries in the weeks to come. Enduring Friendship. Persistent Stress. Englewood allow into Canada only those non-Cana­ The two conservative leaders generally see Cliffs. M.J.: Prentice HalJ. 1985. dian businesses which met certain criteria. eye-to-eye on most issues. Marlin, Lawrence. The Presidents and the Prime Ministers: Washington and OIlGWa. Face 10 Face. Efforts were made by Ottawa to block Ofcourse there are still irritants, some of The Myth of Bilateral Bliss, 1867-1982. Canadian advertisements in United States long standing, between the U.S. and Cana­ Markham, Ontario: Paper Jacks. Ltd.. 1982. border TV stations. This was the era ofthe da. Acid rain looms large, with the United "Third Option," which called for less reli­ States government dragging its feet, long ance on the United States and more in­ after the damning research has put the volvement with other areas of the world. blame squarely on the United States. The Although Canada was asserting herself to fishing controversy and off-shore bound­ protect her interests, the United States ary problems still rankle between the two government did not get very upset, consid­ countries. Because of the extension of the ering these to be but minor concerns in the off-shore boundary to two hundred miles, total picture of United States foreign the effect ofdefining each country's fishing policy. zones in the Gulf of Maine became so Of the four presidents with whom Tru­ complex and so controversial that finally, deau dealt, he respected ixon the most in 1979, both the United States and Cana­ and Reagan the least. Despite the fact that da agreed to place the issue before the ixon was ideologically at variance with World Court at the Hague. In late 1984, Trudeau, they worked well together. How­ the World Court handed down a ruling, ever, in 1971 Nixon shocked Canada by dividing the waters of the Gulf of Maine John F. Myers, associate Professor of History, proposing a protectionist economic policy between the two countries. However, the hasfor the past twelve years been Chairman ofthe College's Canadian Studies Council, which over­ calling for a ten percent surcharge on the governments of both countries called the sees the Canadian Studies Program. Mary H. imports from all the world's countries n ruling unsatisfactory. Both Canadian and Myers, associate librarian, has been with the including Canada. Canada had long re­ U.S. fishing industries expressed dis­ Maxwell Library for eleven years, the past eight ceived special treatment from the U.S. as a appointment with the decision, and each years as Periodicals Librarian. The Myers' vaca­ tion plans almost always include travel in hemispheric partner, and with the imple­ predicted fewer jobs and reduced profits. Canada./or which they share an abiding love. mentation of the surcharge was quite dis- There are other problems between Canada

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