Mackenzie King and The Mackenzie King and The EmpireEmpire

Mackenzie King did not support military Mackenzie King did not support military expansion and wished to distance himself from expansion and wished to distance himself from the Empire.the Empire.

The Chanak Crisis of 1922 The Chanak Crisis of 1922 • King refused to support BritainKing refused to support Britain’’s request for s request for

troops in case of a war with Turkey.troops in case of a war with Turkey.

The Halibut Treaty of 1923The Halibut Treaty of 1923• For the first time Canada signed an For the first time Canada signed an

international treaty without British support.international treaty without British support.

1923 - Halibut Treaty1923 - Halibut Treaty Treaty Agreement Treaty Agreement

concerning closed concerning closed season on Halibut season on Halibut fishing in the North fishing in the North PacificPacific

King wished to eliminate King wished to eliminate British representation British representation from Canada’s treaty-from Canada’s treaty-making processmaking process

Canada signed the Canada signed the treaty on her own treaty on her own without any without any involvement from involvement from Britain – first time.Britain – first time.

The Election of 1925The Election of 1925

The Progressive party was The Progressive party was weakened by internal disagreementweakened by internal disagreement

andand The Liberals had failed to keep all The Liberals had failed to keep all

the promises of 1921. They were the promises of 1921. They were now vulnerable in the Maritimes now vulnerable in the Maritimes because ofbecause of

Freight Ratesand Tariffs.

Between 1921 and 1925 Between 1921 and 1925 economic conditions in most economic conditions in most of Canada improvedof Canada improved

but

The Election of 1925 IIThe Election of 1925 II

Conservative seatsConservative seats

Liberal seatsLiberal seats

Progressive seatsProgressive seats

Mackenzie King lost the election butcalled on the support of theProgressive Party and refused to resign.

The King-Byng Affair 1926 A scandal in the Liberal A scandal in the Liberal

government forced government forced Mackenzie King to ask Mackenzie King to ask Lord Byng, the Lord Byng, the Governor-General, for Governor-General, for dissolution.dissolution.

Lord Byng would not Lord Byng would not grant this request grant this request becausebecause• Conservative leader Conservative leader

Meighen led the Meighen led the largest party.largest party.

• An election had just An election had just taken place in 1925.taken place in 1925.

Lord Byng

The King-Byng Affair 1926 IIThe King-Byng Affair 1926 II

King accused Lord Byng and the King accused Lord Byng and the Conservatives of Conservatives of ““twisting the Constitution.twisting the Constitution.””A reluctant Arthur Meighen now formed A reluctant Arthur Meighen now formed government.government.The Progressives continued to support the The Progressives continued to support the Liberals and Meighen was quickly defeated.Liberals and Meighen was quickly defeated.An election called for September 14, 1926 An election called for September 14, 1926 returned King and the Liberals to power.returned King and the Liberals to power.

Afterwards…Afterwards… King argued that it was undemocratic for British King argued that it was undemocratic for British

official to refuse advice of Canadian P.M.official to refuse advice of Canadian P.M. Came to redefine the role of Governor General Came to redefine the role of Governor General

not only in Canada but throughout the not only in Canada but throughout the Dominions-as a representative of the Sovereign Dominions-as a representative of the Sovereign nation, and not just that of the British nation, and not just that of the British government.government.

No governor general – since then – has acted No governor general – since then – has acted against against the wishes of Prime Ministeragainst against the wishes of Prime Minister

Imperial Conference 1926Imperial Conference 1926 Dominions of the Dominions of the

British Empire British Empire requested requested autonomy & to autonomy & to define status of define status of “Dominion”“Dominion”

Canada, Australia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, New Zealand, South AfricaSouth Africa

Autonomy: the Autonomy: the freedom to govern freedom to govern themselvesthemselves

Resulted in Resulted in Balfour Report – Balfour Report – 19261926

Statute of Westminster - Statute of Westminster - 19311931 made Balfour Report legal made Balfour Report legal

officially recognized officially recognized Dominions as members of Dominions as members of the British Commonwealth, the British Commonwealth, NOT colonies of the British NOT colonies of the British Empire (more political Empire (more political independence)independence)

Equal in status with Britain Equal in status with Britain as a country, and entitled as a country, and entitled to make its own lawsto make its own laws

Canada now able to Canada now able to conduct its own Foreign conduct its own Foreign Affairs and RelationsAffairs and Relations Signing of Statute of Westminster

The Statute of The Statute of Westminster(cont.)Westminster(cont.)

Two Restrictions:Two Restrictions:1. Canada’s constitution, 1. Canada’s constitution, the British North the British North

America ActAmerica Act, remained in Britain, because , remained in Britain, because the Canadian federal and provincial the Canadian federal and provincial governments could not agree on governments could not agree on an an amending formulaamending formula

Amending Formula - Procedure for changing the Amending Formula - Procedure for changing the Canadian ConstitutionCanadian Constitution

2. Judicial Court of Appeal (Judicial Committee 2. Judicial Court of Appeal (Judicial Committee of the Privy Council) for Canadians resided of the Privy Council) for Canadians resided in Britain until in Britain until 19491949