| As personal advisor to Prime Minister R. B. Bennett and chief Canadian diplomat to the United States, William Duncan Herridge was a force in Canadian politics from 1931 to 1935. Herridge and Bennett, by some accounts, met only in 1930, and it is remarkable that Herridge was able to gain the Conservative leader's confidence in such a short time. This friendship grew as Herridge became more involved in Depression politics and diplomacy, and then married Bennett's sister. While Minister to Washington, Herridge was preoccupied with three main issues: the St. Lawrence Deep Waterway Treaty, Reciprocity, and the New Deal. This thesis describes and examines these issues in detail from the standpoint of Herridge's involvement, in an effort to assess the nature of his role and influence. At the heart of the enquiry is a paradox. Herridge is regarded in the literature as a spectacularly successful envoy and advisor. However, none of his three large objectives can be regarded in his own terms as a success. |
