The historian and documentary writer and filmmaker Antony Anderson discusses his new book, The Diplomat: Lester Pearson and the Suez Crisis (Goose Lane, 2015), Canada’s place then and now, and more, with Joseph Planta.

The Diplomat: Lester Pearson and the Suez Crisis by Antony Anderson (Goose Lane, 2015). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Diplomat

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

A new book (The Diplomat: Lester Pearson and the Suez Crisis) looks at Lester Pearson and his role in the Suez Crisis. The book’s author Antony Anderson joins me now, who’ll discuss what was happening in Egypt forty-nine years ago, and how Canada’s then secretary of state for external affairs, Lester B. Pearson made proposals that prevented conflict in the Middle East, perhaps avoiding another world war. Pearson’s remarkable skills in diplomacy are highlighted throughout the book, as are Pearson’s qualities of leadership that garnered him a Nobel Prize shortly thereafter. By 1958, he was leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and would become prime minister in 1963. You get a sense in this book, how Canada emerged as an international influence. It wasn’t then, or now, a major power, but as a middle power it proved a highly respectable role. And it was largely because of Pearson that Canada was a vital part in making peace around the world. With the new government in Ottawa now, we’ll also look at how Canada has strayed from Pearson’s example in the last decade, and where it could be in the future. Antony Anderson has produced and written numerous programs for the major television networks in this country, including Discovery, TVO, History Television, Global, and CBC Radio. His writing has appeared in sundry publications across the country. The website for more is at www.suezcrisis.ca. The book is published by Goose Lane Editions. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Toronto today, Antony Anderson; Mr. Anderson, good morning.

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