Pearson believed that Canada had a responsibility and indeed, a vital national interest, in active participation in any international activity that would lessen the chances of another world war. As such, Pearson was a strong advocate of the UN’s role in peacekeeping and in strong Canadian involvement in UN peacekeeping operations. As well, he was actively involved in negotiations that led to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. Through his involvement in early UN conflict solving, both he and Canada emerged with distinction. By not condemning, isolating or antagonizing the States involved, Pearson was able to end the Suez crisis in 1956 through the United Nations by the creation of an international police force which would separate the combatants; would end the immediate fighting; and would allow the UK and France to withdraw from the crisis with a minimum loss of face and before being formally condemned by the UN.
![[Photo of Nobel Peace Prize Medal]](http://www.unac.org/pics/nobel.gif)
In
1957, Pearson’s remarkable diplomatic achievements in peacebuilding, and
in particular in resolving the crisis of Suez through the establishment of a
UN Emergency Force, was recognized and honoured with the awarding of the
Nobel Peace Prize. In his presentation
speech, Dr. Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee emphasized that
"the Peace Prize has not been awarded to the politician or to the
secretary of state as such, but to the man Lester Pearson because of his
personal qualities -- the powerful initiative, strength and perseverance he
has displayed in attempting to prevent or limit war operations and to
restore peace in situations where quick, tactful, and wise action has been
necessary to prevent unrest from spreading and developing into a worldwide
conflagration."
During 2001, the global community lost one of its long-time champions with
the death of William Epstein, a Canadian. He was 88 when he died. Epstein
was one of the first UN staff members. He worked with the preparatory commission
planning the organization in London in 1945, joined the secretariat in 1946 and
worked with Ralph Bunche on the Special Committee on Palestine in the months
leading up to the proclamation of the state of Israel. He then moved to
disarmament - and that remained his passion for the rest of his life. As
Director of the UN Disarmement Division he was involved with such negotiaitons
as the Partial Test-Ban Treaty (1963), the Seabed Arms Control Treaty (1971) the
Nonproliferation Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Treaty of
Tlateloco, to name only some of his areas of contribution. He officially
retired in 1972 but continued as a senior fellow with UNITAR and as a
disarmement and arms control consultant to the secretary general. He was
Canadian, recognized for his accomplishments with membership in the Order of
Canada. Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs
Jayantha Dhanapala, at a memorial service for William Epstein in New York on 14
February, 2001: "I learned with great regret of the passing of
Bill Epstein, a former staff member and a man who was well known to all seven
Secretaries-General of the United Nations. He was indisputably one
of the world's leading advocates of global nuclear disarmament, having devoted
both his entire professional career and his long retirement to this noble cause.
He will perhaps best be remembered for his important contributions to the
negotiation of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin
America and the Caribbean and for his long advocacy of a Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the subject of his celebrated book, The Last Chance.
Though his long-standing goal remains to be achieved, his efforts will surely
inspire others to carry on his work." Read an excellent article on
William Epstein at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/Epstein-en.asp