Event Date: November 10, 2009 - 4:00 pm
Location: Social Sciences Building, 120 Universi

A talk by Michael Small, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Followed by a discussion facilitated by Peter Jones, University of Ottawa.

Free. This event will be in English.

In the early hours of April 22, 1914, American President Woodrow Wilson sent Marines to seize the port of Veracruz in an attempt to alter the course of the Mexican Revolution. As a result, the United States seemed on the brink of war with Mexico. An international uproar ensued. The governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile offered to mediate a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Surprisingly, both the United States and Mexico accepted their offer and all parties agreed to meet at an international peace conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This was Canada’s first experience with international mediation. The Forgotten Peace, by Michael Small, is the first full account of the Niagara Falls Peace Conference to be published in North America since 1914. The author carefully reconstructs what happened at Niagara Falls, and draws important lessons on the conduct of international mediation and the perils of middle-power diplomacy. At the conclusion of Mr. Smalls’ remarks, Professor Peter Jones will make some comments on Canada’s present role in international mediation and what could be done to strengthen its capacity in this regard.

Michael Small is Assistant Deputy Minister for Personnel at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He has had numerous postings, including in Latin America.

Peter Jones is Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.