John Nelson and the Origins of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
| Author | Lawrence T. Woods |
| Published date | 01 June 2004 |
| Date | 01 June 2004 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002070200405900208 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
LAWRENCE
T.
WOODS
John
Nelson
and
the
origins
of
the
Canadian
Institute
of
International
Affairs
Canadian
universities
might
take
some
steps
to
attract
[Asian]
students;
and
might
increase
their
facilitiesfor
the
study
of
Oriental
languages
and
history.
Graduates
in
these
should man
our
immi-
gration
staffs
and
our
consular
offices
in
the
East.
Greater
contact
and
intercourse
would
do
much
to
forestall
misunderstandings
and
to
facilitate
and
foster
trade.'
WITH
THIS
CHALLENGE,
JOHN
NELSON,
having
just
chaired
the
Canadian delegation
to
the
inaugural
meeting
of
the
Institute
of
Pacific
Relations
(IPR),
launched
his
quest
to
enhance
Canadian
understanding
of
regional
and international
affairs.
Three
years
later,
in
January
1928,
the
Canadian
Institute
of
International
Affairs
(CIIA)
was
born.
Lawrence
T
Woods
is
associate
professor
ofpolitical
science
and
international
studies
at
the
American
University
of
Sharjah in
the
UnitedArab
Emirates.
The
author
is
indebted
to
John
Howes,
the
editors
of
this
journal,
and
three anonymous
refereesfor
their
constructivefeedback
on
earlier
versions
of
this
article.
i
John
Nelson,
"Forestalling
a
Fight
in
the Pacific," MacLean's
Magazine
(i
October
1925), 52.
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
Spring
2004
Lawrence
T.
Woods
In
some
fascinating
ways,
John
Nelson's
intellectual development
mirrors
that
of
Canada
itself.
It
is
the
story
of
a
progression
of
under-
standing,
from
the
perspective
of
ethnic
difference
as
something
to
be
feared
to
the
view
that
it
is
something
to be
valued.
This
article
traces
the
development
of
Nelson's
thinking about
things
international
and
about
the need
to
understand
and appreciate
difference. It
also
explores
some
of
the
reasons
that
he has
faded
from
our
historical
memory.
The
lessons
taken
from this
case
study
will
be
useful
as
Canadians
seek
to further
develop
their
regional
and
international
rela-
tions
in
the
new
millennium.
Moreover,
this
story
is
important
because
John
Nelson
(1873-1936)
was
instrumental
in
shaping
what
is
now commonly
referred
to
as
unofficial or
"track
two"
diplomacy-
the
activities
of
individuals
and
organizations
that
may
or
may
not
be
formally
sanctioned
to
represent
their
state,
government
or
society,
but
are
expected
or
seen
by
people
from
other
countries
to
act
and
speak
as
if
they
are.
Track
two
diplomacy and
the
concomitant
activities
of
nongovernmental
organizations
like
the
IPR
and
CILA
are
increasingly
prominent
subjects
in
the
field
of
international
studies.
His
1925
call
for more
study
of
Asia
within Canadian
universities
and
his roles
in
the
establishment
of
the
IPR
and
CIIA
place
John
Nelson toward
the
front
of
a
long
line
of
Canadians
who
have
dedicated
themselves
to
promoting
a
better
public
understanding
of
the
global
issues.
Recognizing
this
history
and
the
lessons
it embodies
will be
vital to
national
efforts
to
recast
Canada's
international
profile.
LEARNING
FROM
LEPERS
The
origins
of
the
CIIA
lie
in
a
cross-cultural
encounter
in
a
tiny,
unlikely
place
off
the
coast
of
Vancouver
Island
amidst
one
of
the
most
abhorrent
human
rights
abuses
in
Canada's
early
history.
On
Sunday,
22
May
1898,
John
Nelson,
a
cub
reporter
for
the Victoria
Daily
Times,
joined
a
small
party
accompanying
the
city
health inspector
on
his
quarterly
visit
to
the
Chinese
leper
colony
on
D'Arcy
Island.
The
name
given
to
the
island
in
the
language
of
the
Saanich First
Nation
means
"arrival,"
in
deference
to
the
observation
that
salmon
returning
to
the
Fraser
River
are
usually first
spotted
at
this
location
in
Haro
Strait,
just
off
the
Saanich
Peninsula.
On
this
day,
however,
the
Saanich
name
took
on
an
additional
meaning
for,
in
the
wake
of
what
he
saw
on
D'Arcy,
Nelson-who
had
earlier
that
same
year
come
west
to
British
Columbia
from
Ontario-knew
that
he
too
had now
truly
388
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
Spring2004
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