White Paper on Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy, White Paper on

A 6-volume review of foreign policy conducted 1968-70 by the Department of External Affairs (now FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE) with the involvement of many other departments and agencies, invited academics, business people and others. The department had its initial overview rejected by Cabinet. A revised version, more in accord with the speeches and writings of Prime Minister Trudeau, was accepted. Besides a general paper, there were sector papers on Europe, Latin America, the US, international development and the Pacific. The paper recommended that foreign policy be related to 6 national interests: economic growth, social justice, quality of life, sovereignty and independence, peace and security, and harmonious natural environment - with emphasis on the first 3. Canada's role in PEACEKEEPING was to be downplayed, there was to be closer contact with Europe and developing nations, FOREIGN AID was to be increased and the People's Republic of China was to be recognized diplomatically - all of which simply affirmed the redirection of foreign policy already initiated by the new Trudeau government. Canadian-American relations were not examined.