Peacekeeping has long been Canada’s special metier. The modern concept of “peacekeeping” was impelled by the 1956 Suez Crisis when the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was created. Lester B. Pearson, Minister of External Affairs, won the Nobel Peace Prize for establishing the force and Canada’s reputation for peacekeeping was born. Canada sent the first peacekeepers to Egypt on November 24, 1956. Today, despite our small and under-resourced military, Canada provides about 10% of the world’s peacekeeping force. What appealed most to Canada in the 1945 UN Charter was the idea of extending to the world the rule of law, providing a framework from which to regulate disputes and restrain violence. In the 50s, Pearson understood that an independent UN force was needed to enforce a ceasefire during an international crisis while a political settlement was reached. This need had been proven in Korea.
The Charter allowed the UN to conduct military operations. The UN formed an army when the Korean War erupted. Canada contributed to that effort, fighting for the UN, not Korea.
American forces under General MacArthur defeated North Korean troops but did not stop the “police action.” Canada initially supported America’s condemnation of North Korea but soon found it necessary to curb the impetuous Americans to avoid involving Communist China, which could have precipitated a world war.
The UN’s pledge to forge “a unified independent and democratic Korea” was overlooked. The UN had a new image as “a lackey for the United States.” Clearly, the UN needed to be independent of any country’s ambitions in an international situation, such as that which arose in Egypt on July 26, 1956.
Egyptian Prime Minister Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal when America and Britain withdrew financial support of the Aswan Dam project because Egypt’s increasing chumminess with Czechoslovakia and the USSR. The Americans were already miffed at Egypt for recognizing Communist China. England and France were afraid Nasser would close the canal, stopping petroleum shipments between the Persian Gulf and Western Europe. Nasser declared martial law around the canal.
On October 29 Israel attacked Egypt. The Egyptians, well-armed but poorly-led, were outmatched. France and Britain, after Egypt rejected their ultimatum to withdraw, followed Israel, claiming to want to stop the fighting and keep the canal open. Pearson suspected they wanted to overthrow Nasser, who had resisted colonial control of Egypt.. In any case, neither country foresaw the international reaction to their hostility.
The UN General Assembly held an emergency session on November 1, condemning the three attackers. The Assembly took sides when the US demanded an immediate ceasefire. Pearson knew that support from Canada would be sure to antagonize Britain and France. A ceasefire would be ineffective with no provision to supervise or enforce it. Pearson abstained from the vote, a tactical move to allow more time to finalize his plan.
In his address to the Assembly, Pearson remarked that a ceasefire was not enough. “In six months we’ll go through all this again if we do not take advantage of this crisis…to do something about a political settlement.” He suggested forming a special emergency force to keep peace on the Israeli-Egyptian border pending a settlement.
The resolution for Pearson’s plan was passed on November 4. The UNEF, first peacekeeping force in history, was established, with Canadian General E.L.M. Burns as its commander.
A problem arose during the planning process. The Queen’s Own Rifles was the infantry regiment selected. Although the Egyptian government acknowledged Canada’s independence, it pointed out that the Canadian uniforms, regimental name and flags were similar to those of the British. To the average Egyptian, the Canadians and British were indistinguishable. The nomination of the regiment was cancelled but Canada did deploy 300 service troops as a replacement in November, followed later by reconnaissance, administrative and support troops. By January 1957 there were over 1,100 Canadian military personnel stationed in Egypt.
In May 1967 Egypt asked UNEF troops to withdraw. In 1973 Canada participated in a second emergency force operation—UNEF II—after the Arab/Israel Yom Kippur War.
The UN initiative did not end war, but it did make big wars less likely. The Suez Crisis was an important event in Canada’s relations with Britain. Canada had always automatically responded to imperial requests, but this time made her own stand.
Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is the associate editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia.
The Canadian Encyclopedia Copyright © 2007 Historica Foundation of Canada
The Charter allowed the UN to conduct military operations. The UN formed an army when the Korean War erupted. Canada contributed to that effort, fighting for the UN, not Korea.
American forces under General MacArthur defeated North Korean troops but did not stop the “police action.” Canada initially supported America’s condemnation of North Korea but soon found it necessary to curb the impetuous Americans to avoid involving Communist China, which could have precipitated a world war.
The UN’s pledge to forge “a unified independent and democratic Korea” was overlooked. The UN had a new image as “a lackey for the United States.” Clearly, the UN needed to be independent of any country’s ambitions in an international situation, such as that which arose in Egypt on July 26, 1956.
Egyptian Prime Minister Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal when America and Britain withdrew financial support of the Aswan Dam project because Egypt’s increasing chumminess with Czechoslovakia and the USSR. The Americans were already miffed at Egypt for recognizing Communist China. England and France were afraid Nasser would close the canal, stopping petroleum shipments between the Persian Gulf and Western Europe. Nasser declared martial law around the canal.
On October 29 Israel attacked Egypt. The Egyptians, well-armed but poorly-led, were outmatched. France and Britain, after Egypt rejected their ultimatum to withdraw, followed Israel, claiming to want to stop the fighting and keep the canal open. Pearson suspected they wanted to overthrow Nasser, who had resisted colonial control of Egypt.. In any case, neither country foresaw the international reaction to their hostility.
The UN General Assembly held an emergency session on November 1, condemning the three attackers. The Assembly took sides when the US demanded an immediate ceasefire. Pearson knew that support from Canada would be sure to antagonize Britain and France. A ceasefire would be ineffective with no provision to supervise or enforce it. Pearson abstained from the vote, a tactical move to allow more time to finalize his plan.
In his address to the Assembly, Pearson remarked that a ceasefire was not enough. “In six months we’ll go through all this again if we do not take advantage of this crisis…to do something about a political settlement.” He suggested forming a special emergency force to keep peace on the Israeli-Egyptian border pending a settlement.
The resolution for Pearson’s plan was passed on November 4. The UNEF, first peacekeeping force in history, was established, with Canadian General E.L.M. Burns as its commander.
A problem arose during the planning process. The Queen’s Own Rifles was the infantry regiment selected. Although the Egyptian government acknowledged Canada’s independence, it pointed out that the Canadian uniforms, regimental name and flags were similar to those of the British. To the average Egyptian, the Canadians and British were indistinguishable. The nomination of the regiment was cancelled but Canada did deploy 300 service troops as a replacement in November, followed later by reconnaissance, administrative and support troops. By January 1957 there were over 1,100 Canadian military personnel stationed in Egypt.
In May 1967 Egypt asked UNEF troops to withdraw. In 1973 Canada participated in a second emergency force operation—UNEF II—after the Arab/Israel Yom Kippur War.
The UN initiative did not end war, but it did make big wars less likely. The Suez Crisis was an important event in Canada’s relations with Britain. Canada had always automatically responded to imperial requests, but this time made her own stand.
Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is the associate editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia.
The Canadian Encyclopedia Copyright © 2007 Historica Foundation of Canada