Abundance Of Westminster 1931 Essay

Before 1931, Canada was under the British crown, meaning the Canadian government abided by the decisions made by the Queen. However, Canada has long escaped the rule of Britain as portrayed though many instances in Canadian history and it can be proven by many instances throughout history. Canada not only demonstrated it was a self-governing nation, but it was also a strong one. Specific examples of Canada’s growing independence are the Chanak Affair, the Balfour Report, and the Statute of Westminster

In 1922, the Chanak Affair was Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's first significant foreign policy test. The British troops were posted beside the region of Chanak (today it is known as Canakkale). This area is a small seaport on the Dardanelles strait, which is the international sea route that divides Europe and Asia. In 1922, Turkish forces had effectively pushed the Greek army out of the country and threatened the British forces that were at Chanak. On September 15th, Britain sent a telegram to the Dominions that included to contribute soldiers. At this time, Canada was a member of the League of Nations, however Canada did not have a distinct foreign policy or a

The Statute of Westminster 1931 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Therefore, Before this, the British government had certain unclear powers, and overriding authority upon legislation passed by the Dominions such as Canada. However, things began to change when the First World War had ended. This is because the sacrifices of Canada and many other Dominions on European battlefields had created feelings of nationhood, and desires for more self-sufficiency from ‘the mother country’. Without the Statute of Westminster, Canada and many other country’s today would not be known as what we know them