After twenty-two years of Liberal rule, the Progressive Conservatives under John Diefenbaker inherited, in 1957, a Department cf External Affairs which had been strongly influenced by the attitudes, techniques and personality cf the then-current leader of the Liberal party, Lester Pearson. Diefenbaker was deeply suspicious cf the department's assumed partisanship, and worriedabout the effects of Pear son's proteges, the "Pearsonalities, " on the conduct cf foreign affairs. In spite of his inexperience, the prime minister initially took on the portfolio himself. Even after the appointment cf Sidney Smith as secretary of state, Diefenbaker continued his active interest and involvement in the department's affairs.After Smith's unexpected death in 1959, the portfolio was filled by Howard Green, in whom the prime minister rested more confidence. On balance, the author contends. Green maintained a healthy independence from control by his senior departmental officials. While the bureaucrats were not hath to put forward initiatives of their own - aid to francophone Africa is cited as one example - senior civil servants appear to have carefully avoided any implication cf partisanship. At the same time, the prime minister's selective but forceful interest in some aspect" of foreign policy meant that decisions on these subjects were sometimes uninfluenced by the department. In matters such as South Africa's membership in the Commonwealth and relations with the Soviet Union, the prime minister's views and actions could be decisive. On policy issues such as Britains's entrance into the EEC, External Affairs had to contend with a further locus cf power - the sometimes independent intervention cf Canada's high commissioner in London, the highly respected George Drew, and with his direct access to the prime minister.This sometimes confusing situation, cf competing centres cf power, was perhaps most tellingly illustrated by the government's handling of the nuclear weapons debate, which contributed to the government's resignation and subsequent electoral defeat. Foreign policy concerns themselves did not dominate the election, but the government's reputa- tion for indecisiveness derived largely from its conduct of external affairs. In this respect, Diefenbaker's treatment qfforeign policy decisions deeply influenced the election.Après vingt-deux ans de règne Libéral, les Conservateurs, sous John Diefenbaker, prirent le pouvoir en 1957. Ils héritèrent d'un Ministère les affaires extérieures qui avait été fortement influencé par les attitudes, les techniques et la personnalité du leader Libéral d'alors, Lester Pearson. Diefenbaker fut profondément méfiant à l'égard du présumé caractère partisan du ministère, et inquiet de l'influence que les protégés de Pearson, les Pearsonalities. Malgré son inexpérience, le premier ministre assuma d'abord la responsabilité du portefeuille, afin d'en amorcer la transformation. Même après la nomination de Sidney Smith au poste de secrétaire d'Etat, Diefenbaker continua d'être intéressé aux affaires ...
