Located in Egypt, the Suez Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Although the canal belonged to Britain and France at the time, during the summer of 1956, the Egyptian leader seized control of it, as he planned to use it as a shipping route. Egypt’s act of seizing the Canal left France and Britain very angry, as they used the canal as a link to Asian markets. Due to their anger, Britain, France and Israel joined forces to plan an invasion on Egypt in order to regain control over the canal. With Israel, France and Britain teaming up against Egypt, the Soviet Union united with and took Egypt’s side. At this point, the world appeared to be on the verge of breakout for war.
However, at the United Nations, Lester Pearson approached a different plan, that would maintain global peace and avoid the breakout of war. The idea was to get France and Britain to completely withdraw, while leaving a United Nations force to watch over the area and secure the situation. Although most British and few Canadians were not pleased with Lester’s idea, the majority voted for his proposal, as avoiding war sounded appealing. Nobody wanted to start a 3rd World War, as the nations wanted to maintain peace throughout the globe. This was recognized as the first large international peacekeeping force, as 6000 men from ten countries participated, under the command of a Canadian General. Until the year of 1967, when Egypt demanded it to leave the area, Pearson’s proposal succeeded at maintaining peace in the Middle East.
I believe that Lester Pearson was a very, very wise man, as he proposed the idea of peacekeeping. When conflict arose and surrounded him, rather than joining the situation that could have led to World War 3, he stepped out and tried to create and maintain peace. He understood that war was unnecessary and unavoidable, as no nations wanted to participate in another war. He fought for what he believed in; world peace, and achieved it. Pearson later on won the Nobel Peace Prize, as he returned from Suez Canal, recognizable as a true hero to all. Fulfilling his dreams, Lester also gave Canada an independent place on the world stage.
What Lester Pearson did was not only beneficial for his reputation, but for the entire nation’s. Ever since peacekeeping at the Suez Canal took place, From the perspectives of countries all around the world, Canada was finally seen as a peaceful, independent, powerful and giving nation, that stood up for its beliefs and fought for what was right.