Canada’s Department of External Affairs, Volume 3 : Innovation and Adaptation, 1968–1984

Volume three of the official history of Canada’s Department of External Affairs offers readers an unparalleled look at the evolving structures underpinning Canadian foreign policy from 1968 to 1984. Using untapped archival sources and extensive interviews with top-level officials and ministers, the volume presents a frank “insider’s view” of work in the Department, its key personalities, and its role in making Canada’s foreign policy. In doing so, the volume presents novel perspectives on Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the country’s responses to the era’s most important international challenges. These include the October Crisis of 1970, recognition of Communist China, UN peacekeeping, decolonization and the North-South dialogue, the Middle East and the Iran Hostage crisis, and the ever-dangerous Cold War. Contents 5 Foreword 7 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 13 Abbreviations 15 1. New Guys with New Ideas, 1968–1969 21 2. A Government with Plans, 1969–1970 70 3. The Limits of Planning, 1970–1972 105 4. Minority Government, 1972–1974 152 5. A Respectable Role, 1974–1976 197 6. A Mandate for Change, 1976–1979 255 7. A Change of Government, 1979–1980 304 8. The Return of the Liberals, 1980–1982 352 9. Completing the Reform Agenda, 1982–1984 409 Epilogue: “Same Old Gang” 462 Appendices 475 Notes 481 Photo Credits 591 Index 593 The first volume of the official history of the Department of External Affairs covers the administrative growth of the department from its formation in 1909 through the major changes brought about by the Second World War.