We have joined the United States in alerting NORAD.Khrushchev can end his threat by simply discontinuing the shipment of nuclear weapons to Cuba and by removing the launching pads and such nuclear weapons as are in place. The United States could do no other than take action.We now have Soviet Russia reaching out across the Atlantic to challenge the right of free men to live on this Continent.Our position is I think Canadians as a whole feel as does the Government that the United States has taken the necessary action.Presence of the bases for intermediate ballistic missiles on Cuba is a direct and immediate threat to the security of North America and that Canada is in a position of being directly threatened as a result.If the Government won’t stand up then somebody has to take the position in common with others.” If not, you can write off British Columbia. We should have done this and should do this, and should make this clear. “Why haven’t we told the people where we stand? Pearson waited for two days and then made a decision sympathetic to the American decision. have supported him and offered to send aid to support them. “A lot of nations will say – where were you in the moment of decision, Since the 22nd when Kennedy made his statement all the countries in the O.A.S. The threat of the cold war is being extended to take in the whole world. President Kennedy and his spokesmen in the leading nation of the Free World in the face of Russian aggression has challenged them on this and asked them to desist. “The question is peace and war, life and death. “I feel that the people of British Columbia are overwhelmingly behind President Kennedy in the stand that he has taken in this matter, and that it would be disastrous for the Prime Minister personally and the Party generally to appear in any way to have reservations about supporting Kennedy. Having done this may health and strength sustain you and all of us in our stand against the menace of Communism.” "I feel sure that most Canadian citizens support you in your decision to challenge now (repeat now) the hostile penetration of this hemisphere. One hour after President Kennedy made his TV appearance on October 22nd I wired President Kennedy as follows: "In my opinion it is extremely important that in this crisis there be absolutely no doubt whatever that the Government of Canada will stand beside the President of the United States and the people of that country in their decision to resist the hostile penetration of Russian Communism in this hemisphere." I called Finlayson after receiving the attached and informed him that it meant that there was some kind of a condition of mind in British Columbia that was forever bellyaching.ĭeane Finlayson phoned from Vancouver last night and asked me to give you the following message (as dictated by him):. The Crisis was the crux of nuclear terror and continues to be referenced as nuclear questions are once again at the forefront of international debates over North Korea, Israel, Iran, and the Indian subcontinent today. International alliances were challenged, great leaders arose and were broken, and life-threatening decisions were made during thirteen uneasy days in October. As these two hegemonic superpowers struggled for ideological dominance, the world lived in fear of nuclear annihilation. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most heated moment of the Cold War. Ultimately, Diefenbaker believed that Kennedy’s “arrogance” had endangered North America and could have resulted in nuclear war. Also, under the guidance of the Department of Defence, the Canadian military had taken informal steps to put itself on alert. However, due to his reluctance to respond to the situation, Diefenbaker acted only after the crisis’ climax had passed. Canada's Role in the International CommunityĮventually Diefenbaker did agree to put Canadian troops on alert, as all other NATO members supported a proposed blockade and agreed to aid the United States if an attack occurred.Replica Rooms: Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council Chamber.Diefenbaker Historic Sites Across Canada.The Life and Political Career of John G.
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