In 1956 the influence of the Cold War is being felt in the Middle East. Britain, France, and the newly formed Jewish state of

Pearson’s most defining confrontation with another world leader as the Prime Minister would come during the time of Canada’s centennial birthday. The French President Charles de Gaulle. Charles was seen as a very odd character to the other nation leaders, however his antics were tolerated. Instead of arriving via airplane into Ottawa, he arrived by ship and landed at Wolfe’s Cove. No one had known, but de Gaulle had come to stir up anti-Canadian feelings. He gave a very loud and enthusiastic speech to separatists in Montreal where he was quoted as saying, “Vive Montreal, Vive le Quebec, Vive le Quebec libre!”. Pearson took great offence to these comments, and the French President eventually left Canada via airplane and was greeted in France by cabinet ministers. Jean Drapeau, the mayor of Montreal over televisions told the French President this, “he[Drapeau] was in a Canadian city” (Bowering, 392-394). It is unclear as too why the French President acted in this way, but it is very clear as too why Pearson took the comments so harshly. He had tried to create a very united nation, however detached from other nations. The comments de Gaulle made went against everything Pearson had been working for, a peaceful, different, united Canada.

Although Pearson’s economical plans were not exactly up to par with his diplomatic ability, nor match his contribution to a peaceful world. He did however shape the manner in which peacekeeping is performed. It must have been his past experiences with the horrors of war, having lived through World War I, and also serving in World War II that made Pearson a strong enthusiast of the United Nations. The League of Nations had failed to protect them from another war, so he must have taken it upon himself to try to make sure that war of that magnitude would never happen again. He also was very involved in how Canada is seen as essential member of peacekeeping forces around the world. Keeping the peace was his goal, and it just so happens that along the way he managed to shape and mould this nation or ours into one of the leaders of a peaceful world. In his acceptance speech for the Peace Prize, Mike shared these words, “Our age is one of trouble and tension and violence. It is also one of great progress and achievement. It holds both the promise of a far better life for all men and the threat of no life at all for mankind. Which is it to be?”. It is very clear that Pearson wanted his work to insure that this world would be free of trouble, tension and violence. However the worlds is still a very unstable place, but let’s just think of how much worse it would have been if good old Lester did not work so hard to try to create a world that existed in peace and harmony.

Pearson was praised as a hero of the UN. He was able to convince the General Assembly to support him with a unanimous vote 57 – 0 (Bowering, 370). This display of leadership and willingness to promote peace won Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee was quoted as saying, “he [Pearson] saved the world”. In an international point of view, “Mike” was praised for what he did. However in some parts of the worl

Some topics in this essay:
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