ATLAnTIC GUARDIAn - Memorial University of Newfoundland DAI

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"NEWFOUNDLAND IS AS VITAL TO With the coming of war, the Canadian people as a whole and for the first time became aware of the importance of Newfoundland as the key strategic island of the North Atlantic area. It is of interest to analyze this sudden awareness of a neighbour, for Newfoundland is the oldest British colony. Newfoundland, unjustly, occupies a minor place in our history books and a still minor place in the thoughts of most Canadians. To the extent that Canadians have thought of the island, it has been in terms of lisheries, iron ore, and newsprint. Direct contact was conlined to a view of the rocky shoreline as seen from the deck of an ocean liner passing through the Straits of Belle Isle. Until the present war, no member of a Canadian government had ever visited Newfoundland. And such mention of Newfoundland as may be found in our Hansard is confined largely to the Privy Coun ·cil judgment in the Quebec-Labrador boundary. By and large Canadians, while wishing Newfoundland well, knew next to nothing of it. However when France fell in 1940 and left the United Kingdom dependent largely upon aid from North America, Newfoundland suddenly emerged as a strategic base of the utmost importance. It was essential as an air and naval base in maintaining the supply line to the United Kingdom and in the reverse it was suddenly realized that, if the United Kingdom fell, Newfoundland would be the natural and inevitable objective of the enemy in carrying the war to this continent. From 1940 onward, Newfoundland has grown rapidly in importance. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that Canada realizes today that Newfoundland is as vital to her security on the east as Vancouver Island on the west. Canadian troops were at once despatched to protect the air and naval bases, including the Gander base, and the iron mines. A few months later came the "bases for destroyers" agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. To this was added a Canadian protocol protecting the interests of this country. The United States government obtained a ninety-nine year lease covering three bases* which were promptly built. There is complete freedom of egress and ingress and emergency powers to operate anywhere in the island and probably in Labrador as well. The emergency powers, however, cannot be invoked without consultation with Canada and Newfoundland. Meanwhile the United States Canada Permanent Joint Board of Defence took over the planning of Newfoundland's defences. And Canada's direct efforts in behalf of *'t should be noted that bases in New· foundland were outright gifts to the u.s. and were not included in the destroyer deal.-Edi/o,.
CANADA AS VANCOUVER ISLAND" Says Grant Dexter, Author of "Canada and the Building of Peace" Newfoundland speedily became of great significance. Newfoundland, for army defence purposes, became really a part of Canada. Canada, for the duration of the war, took over Gander and Botwood and built two additional air bases - Torbay and Goose in Labrador. The Canadian navy, in addition, has pretty well taken over Newfoundland naval bases and large expenditures on new naval facilities are being made. It is worth noting that while the United States dealt with the government of the United Kingdom, Canada dealt with the Newfoundland Commission of Government. What will become of these war arrangements after the peace is anybody's guess. When peace comes, the points of view of Newfoundland and Canada may be anticipated to be
Page 3: ATLAnTIC GUARDIAn Brian Cahill, Ass
Page 7 and 8: THE FOUR FREEDOMS IN BRONZE By Ewar
Page 9 and 10: DEATH IN A DORY By William Dodge La
Page 11 and 12: The moment school closed. last June
Page 13: FISHING AT FOGO ISLANDS Turcliffe,
Page 17 and 18: A Yank Looks at Newfoundland lVit/;
Page 19 and 20: A YANK LOOKS AT NEWFOUNDLAND supper
Page 21: The Old Home Town - I PLACENTIA By
Page 25 and 26: HER WAR VETERANS Canada's soldiers,
Page 28 and 29: JidWn... JR.a1uJzR.. SEA FEVER Skip
Page 30 and 31: eakfast than had been the custom. T
Page 32: and disbelief in his face. "Go in?"
Page 36: When Victory Comes Plan a Real VACA

ATLAnTIC GUARDIAn - Memorial University of Newfoundland DAI

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