Ambassador Assignments Canadian Diplomats Reflect on Our Place in the World

Whether guarding our interests in Washington during sensitive talks on free trade, acid rain and the environment, fighting Apartheid in South Africa, witnessing the Communist revolution in China, or representing this country to the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or the Vatican, Canadian ambassadors are the eyes, ears and voice of Canada on the world stage.In this insightful, candid, and at times humorous look at the role and many responsibilities of the men and women in our foreign service, nineteen Canadian ambassadors - (high commissioners in Commonwealth countries) - reflect on the diplomacy required, the clash of cultures, and occasionally dangerous conditions encountered in the service of their country.Canadian interests in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, as well as other parts of the globe are also discussed, whether they are political or trade related, have to do with foreign aid, culture, immigration, security, or peace-keeping, as well as a host of other worldwide concerns.So too, is the role played by our foreign service in offering assistance to Canadians travelling or working in foreign countries.

David C. Reece
was educated at the University of Manitoba and Cambridge University. He served his country in the Royal Canadian Navy and in ten postings with Canada's foreign service, five of them as ambassador or high commissioner, and one as minister and deputy representative to the United Nations. David is the author of A Rich Broth: Memoirs of a Canadian Diplomat, and was the organizer, editor and contributor to Special Trust and Confidence: Envoy Essays in Canadian Diplomacy.

Contents IntroductionWashington Years Derek Burney Reminiscences of a High Commissioner to the United Kingdom: 1985-1988 Chief Justice Roy McMurtry Revolution in China; Troubles in Lebanon Jack Maybee The Canadian Embassy to the Holy See E.P. Black Accredited to a Northern Kingdom - Denmark and Greenland D. Armstrong Correspondant: Lagos 1966 Andre Couvrette A is for Aristide John W. Graham An Interview with Ambassador Arthur Menzies Tom Earle L'Aube du Transport Hypersonique Charles Bedard Fighting Apartheid: South Africa 1982-1986 Edward G. Lee, Q.C. Getting Started in Korea, 1973-1977 John A. Stiles Watching the Polish Roller Coaster, 1980-1983 John M. Fraser Souvenirs d'ambassade; La Conference des Ministres Africains Francophones de l'Education: Libreville, Gabon, 1968 Elmo Thibault Diplomatic Reflections of Indonesia: 1974-1977 Peter Johnston A Mission to Algeria: The Ambassador as Trade Commissioner Louis A. Delvoie Ghana, South Africa and Cuba Some: Selected Memories R.H. Middleton China Fred Bild How We Became "A Nation Of The Americas": Reflections Of A Permanent Observer" Ken Williamson Foreign Policy on the Frontiers. Canada-Burma Relations John G. Hadwen