It was a week of decision.
The Prime Minister was deadly serious; no colloquialisms spiced the earnest, careful, 10,000-word speech in which he asked Parliament to support Canada's participation in the World Security Conference at San Francisco. He carefully stated the conference's great objective: to erect an enduring world peace structure. He patiently explained the Dumbarton Oaks blueprint, on which the conference would be based. He discreetly suggested changes: "middle (secondary) nations" like Canada should have powers commensurate with their responsibilities; those without powers —i.e., without representation on the peace organization's security council—should not be expected to send armed forces against an...