Stitches in Time: the Commonwealth in World Politics by Arnold Smith with Clyde Sanger (review)

REVIEWS 61 generation of Canadian intellectuals. Forif anything wascentraltoMassey it washisinvolvement in theintellectual life. Fromhisuniversity contacts with Goldwin Smith andGeorge Wrong through hisassociations withthepolitically orientedthinkers of thedepression, hewasactively involved withmuchof the Canadianintellectual •lite. The changing ideasandenthusiasms of that•lite reveal muchofwhatwas happening toCanada inthefirstthirdofthetwentieth century. Massey's personal life alsoreflected thechanges thatweretakingplacein Canadiansociety.The strictMethodismof his grandfatherand even the formalMethodism of hisfatherhadgivenwayinVincenttoanewandsecular viewof theworld.AsBissell suggests, however,the moralearnestness of his Methodistheritageremained,evenasit wasdirectedintotheartsandsocial reform.And if theacademic community became a substitute for theministerial ,asBissell argues, thenHart Houseon theUniversity of Torontocampus becameits cathedral.One suspects that this displacement of evangelical religionintosecular streams wasnotuniquetoVincentMassey. It mayprove tohavebeenamajorforceinshaping ageneration whichremained influenced bytheirreligious upbringing toa greaterdegreethantheythought. Therearecosts totheapproach whichhasbeentakeninthisbiography. It is annoyingto the readerwhen,for example,one is told that Balliolwasan importantexperience for Massey whilewondering if anything isgoingtobe saidaboutthe Oxford years.The biography doeseventually return to this andotherthemesseemingly left asidebutthedisruptionin chronology does jar. Nevertheless, the organization is probablythe mostsuitable one for a biographylike thisand it doesallowa degreeof analysis that wouldnot otherwise bepossible. The slightannoyances do notreallymara verygood work. DOVe; OWl•M University ofAlberta Stitches in Time: the Commonwealth in World Politics. ARNOLD SMITH with CLYDE SAN•ER. Don Mills,GeneralPublishing, a-98a. Pp.xx, 322. TheCommonwealth, liketheHolyRomanempire,isthehuskwhichremained after the rich kernelof empirehad rottedaway.Thosewhoinheritedthe residuefilled it with a meaningits originalownerscould scarcely have imagined.If the Romanempire'ssuccessor wasneitherholy nor Roman, neitheristheCommonwealth atallwhat,in a9a6,LionelCurtisimagined the British empirewouldbecome. Thisimportant bookbyArnoldSmith,thefirst secretary-general of the Commonwealth, isremarkablydevoidof the sentimental rhetoric which surrounds so much of Canadian discussion of the modernCommonwealth. In the book's firstparagraphSmithpresents his argument for theCommonwealth, notin termsof ashared imperialpastand 62 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW institutions, but rather in terms of the Commonwealth's useasan 'instrument' todevelop 'habits ofconsultation andcooperation thattranscend thelimitsof race,regionandeconomic level.'In otherwords,assecretary-general, Smith triedto poura newmeaning,appropriate for thelatetwentieth century, into theemptyhusk.Stitches inTimeargues strongly thatheandhiscolleagues have succeeded in making the Commonwealthserve the needs of the new internationaleconomicand politicalorder which Smith believesmustbe created. The majorimpediment blocking Smith's pathtohisgoalwastheCommonwealth 's past. It oftenseems thatSmithissaying thattheCommonwealth would work verywell were it not for the British.AlthoughSmithpaystributeto Britaininthepreface forthegrace withwhichitabandoned itsempire,Britain isoftenthevillainin thepages whichfollow.The majorcriticism oftheBritish isimplicitratherthandirect.In discussing theproblems whichBritain's former colonies havefaced,Smithtendsto emphasize thedifficulties the Britishleft behindthem.If, asJohnSeeley wrote,Britainacquired itsempirein a fit of absence ofmind,itgaveitupinthesame fashion. Smith's work,ashedescribes it, wastoconvince the Britishthatgivingup theempiredid notmeanthatits obligations entirelyvanished. It wasa toughjob. On the one hand, Smith had to convince Third World Commonwealth members that they shouldforget the past.On the other hand,he told the Britishtheyhadto rememberit. He isremarkably frank aboutthegames he playedtoachieve hisgoals. WhentwoKenyanministers wereangrywiththe British,Smith'pretended tolose[his]temperandsaid,angrilybut pityingly' thatBritainwas nolonger'theboss.' Canada hadlearned thisin •94oanditwas now'mature.''Whenyougrowup,' Smithcontinued, 'youmayhavea more matureattitudeabouttheCommonwealth...' The Kenyans reportedly reacted tothisextraordinary performance by'talking positively' aboutCommonwealth. The Britishdid notalways respondsowelltoSmith's lectures. Smithisespeciallyharshin histreatmentof EdwardHeathwhomhetermsinsensitive and irrational.Heath regardedSmithasa meddler,an officialwho lackedthe responsibility whichpoliticalpowerbrings.In hisenthusiasm Smithdid go beyondthetasks whichhisofficehadbestowed uponhim. Not surprisingly, Heath'sattitudewassharedbyothers.EventheCanadian government often thoughtthatSmithwentbeyondwhata secretary should do. Smith,whowas aware of the Canadian reservations about his behaviour, does not discussthe subject. Generally,however,thisis a candidbook.It is alsodidactic- sometimes overlyso- andverypersonal. Smith's candour andhisgenerosity extendto giving recognition toClydeSanger. Sanger mayhavebeenSmith's 'ghost,' but thisisverymuchSmith's book.It isfull ofthelifehebroughttohisofficeand to an institution about to be interred. JOHN ENGLISH University ofWaterloo ...