CDKW00060 - Primer for the Average Canadian

This External Affairs Annex, sent on 4 July 1950 with the orders of Captain J. V. Brock of the HMCS “Cayuga,” outlined the formal position of Canada with respect to the Korean crisis since the Second World War. Discussions at External Affairs highlighted the frustrations experienced by western powers with the Soviet Union, in particular the intransigence of the Soviets to cooperate with the UN Temporary Commission on Korea, which included Canada as a member state, to hold free elections. This annex also outlined the importance of this mission being done “under the auspices of the United Nations.” In the same section, officials at External Affairs mentioned that a number of Western countries were aiming to formally grant US General Douglas MacArthur with authority under the United Nations - this was completed three days later. External Affairs also indicated that Canada aims to limit its engagements in Asia, with no intent to join the United States in defending Formosa from mainland China. In doing so, this document hinted at Canadian concerns about a broader war with China or the Soviet Union, a trend that continued throughout internal documents in 1950.