Larry Ostola speaks with Nick Etheridge and Phil Calvert about their book, Supervising a Peace that Never Was: Recollections of Canadian Diplomatic Personnel in Indochina, 1954–1973.

Supervising a Peace that Never Was: Recollections of Canadian Diplomatic Personnel in Indochina, 1954–1973 is a collection of essays written by former Canadian diplomats who served on international commissions in Indochina. These individuals were initially deployed to oversee the implementation of the 1954 Geneva Accords (through the International Commission for Supervision and Control, or ICSC) and later, in 1973, to monitor compliance with the Paris Peace Agreement (under the International Commission of Control and Supervision, or ICCS). Over the course of two decades, young Canadians were posted to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos—regions in which Canada had previously played a minimal role. The chapters that follow reflect their personal memories and experiences during these diplomatic missions.

Read the full book here: https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/capi/assets/docs/books/supervising-a-peace-that-never-was.pdf

Nick Etheridge joined External Affairs in 1967 and held postings in Australia, Vietnam, and Europe, including roles in the CSCE. He served as Canada’s representative in Cambodia (1993), Chargé d’Affaires in the Baltic States (1993–95), and High Commissioner to Bangladesh (1996–99). He retired in 2002 as Director of the Defence Relations Division.

Phil Calvert joined the Department of External Affairs in 1982 and served in Beijing during three postings. He held key roles in trade negotiations, including as Deputy Chief Negotiator for China’s WTO accession, and was Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos from 2011 to 2016. He retired in 2016.

Image Credit: University of Victoria - CAPI Publications

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.