Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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22 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE It exposed the general characteristic of the forces, both physical and psycho- logical - which the free World faced, and the vast dimensions of the struggle in which our generation was engaged. The United Nations resolution in Korea consolidated fifty-four nations of every continent and illustrated in a dramatic fashion the unique role which our world organization can play in bridging differences beween countries sharing a common purpose. The United Nations' conclusive action in Korea, the building of a unified defense command by Atlantic nations in Europe, our preparedness at home and the adoption of the uniting for peace are ample evidence of the growing determination of the members of the United Nations to work towards the achievement of the kind of collective security envisaged in its charter. These previous examples of Canada's support for the United Nations are an essential element of its foreign policy. Canada's contribution over the years has included participation in mediation efforts in Kashmir, Indonesia and Palestine. lt was through the forces from Canada and other free-world members who moved into the scene of the battlefields alongside our friends from the United States that checked the fierce war in Korea. In the T956 Middle East Crisis, Canada played a significant role and continues to take part in the United Nations Emergency Force. In T960 Canada responded promptly to the United Nations' request for support in the Congo by supplying military and civilian specialists and pledging political and financial support. She had a close link with the United Nations Children Fund, the United Nations Expanded Program of Technical Assistance and many other humanitarian programs as well as playing a leading role in United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Above all the United Nations is a world forum which gives its members - on both sides of the great divide - an organized means of negotiation and conciliation when the time and the nations are ripe for it, and when there are tangible indications that the will to seek peaceful solution exists. Support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization continues to be another essential element of Canadian foreign and defence policies. In addition to active participation in the work of the North Atlantic Council, Canada continues to provide a significant contribution to the collective defense of the North-Atlantic Treaty area, including the Canada-United States region. In the NATO European area, Canada's role consists of a fully equipped Infantry Brigade Group and an Air Division. A decision to re-equip eight squadrons with supersonic aircraft was announced by the Govern- ment in 1959, production is already underway. A substantial part of Canada's naval force is earmarked for defense of the North Atlantic and coasted waters. The anti- submarine capabilities of these forces are reinforced by the RCAF squadrons of maritime aircraft. Canada also co-operates closely with the United States through NORAD fNorth American Air Defense Commandt for the defense of the North American region. ln addition to the official activities as a member of NATO, the Canadian Govern- ment encourages and assists voluntary organizations supporting NATO. Consultation between member governments in these other fields, particularly in the political field, is of prime importance in ensuring understanding of each other's policies. When war broke out in 1939, Canadian industry again responded to a flood of military orders and expanded and diversified at a dramatic rate. The spectacular nature of this manufacturing expansion since 1939 has committed Canada, decisively

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR I962-I963 21 THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY ESSAY Boys from Forms Ill and up submitted entries in the Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Competition and with preliminary Selection being made by the Staff, a considerable number were forwarded to the Society Head Quarters - The results just received are most rewarding and congratulations are due to the following for their excellent essays: Class C. Ist prize Robert G. Monteith. BOOK PRIZES - Outstanding Merit. Class B 2. Jim Coristine, Andrew Schindler, Jon Scott. Class B3. Michael Dench Class C I. Merwin Weigel Class C 2. Robert C, Tennant ARTHUR MEIGHEN ESSAY COMPETITION The panel of judges was very impressed by the quality of this year's entries. Wrote one of the judges - These essays reflect a great deal of credit upon their authors, who obviously spent considerable time in research. Indeed, they provide a good refresher summation of our role in world affairs since the second World War. l was particularly interested in noting that each of these young authors stressed a a different aspect of Canada's role in the post-war world, so that they have all contributed to a very good review indeed. Rodney Devitt, whose entry is published in this magazine, was judged the winner, and Gordon Norsworthy was awarded second place. We extend our appreciation to the judges, who are all very busy Montrealers, for giving generously of their time and talent to the evaluation of the entries submitted. CANADA'S ROLE IN POST-WAR WORLD There comes a time in the history of a nation when it seems to gather strength and take great strides forward in wealth and power. In I945, from the rubble and destruction of World War II, emerged Canada as a maturing nation. There also emerged a great hope and a great principle. The hope was that through the United Nations we might succeed where the League of Nations had faltered and fallen short of the goal of peace. The principle was that aggression could only be prevented or defeated through the organization of 'collective security. It was right in I945, and it is right to-day. But we, and others, were gradually forced, by our experiences of the events of I945 to 1947, to recognize that the unanimity of the Great Powers, on which the prospect of security through United Nations action was originally planned, had yielded to mistrust and then a deep hostility which resulted in a cold war instead of the peace we had so earnestly hoped for. So, we were compelled by events to form the defensive bond through other more limited agencies, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ln company with other free states in the Atlantic community and elsewhere, Canada decided to increase and to pool its defensive effort and to assure, in advance, far-reaching and precise commitments for collective defense and security. That force is being built and will be maintained so long as it is necessary. In 1950, the offensive measures in Korea exposed the global nature of the threat to us all. When it broke on an almost unsuspecting world, the United Nations reacted with a speed and vigour that heartened its supporters and confounded its critics. The Korean assault placed a large sector of the free world on the alert. It showed the immensity of the challenge.

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1962-1963 23 and irrevocably to an industrial future. As a country of less than twenty million she produces more newsprint, nickel, asbestos and platinum than any other nation. The dominion is second in the world output of hydro-electric power, pulp, aluminum, gold and zinc, and third in the production of silver, sawn lumber and oats. In the Northland, the great areas of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, there are still vast frontiers of natural resources which have not been fully explored. The atomic age and the arrival of the iet engine brought new challenges to the Canadian mining industries. The most remarkable feature was expanding the output not only in such traditional fields as those of non-ferrous metals, fnickel, copper, lead and zincl but also in newer fields, including oil, iron ore, cobalt, uranium and other rare materials. ln the field of medicine, one of the most remarkable uses of radio-active materials developed in Canada has been the so-called cobalt bomb . These bombs, which are therapeutical units used against cancer, are still in the experimental stages, but encou- raging reports have been received from physicians and hospitals. Canada is working all out on the production of cobalt bombs to meet the many requests from hospitals at home and from a number of countries abroad. Today, Canada looks out on the world with anxiety, but also with confidence - a confidence based on the progress made by the free nations so far in the search for peace through international co-operation - on the strength and fundamental wisdom of the nations with which our destiny is so closely linked, and on the faith that in collective action under the leadership of a powerful and peaceful organization lies the best hope for the future of the word community of which we are a part. Rodney E. Devitt, Form V