Canadian declaration of war on Germany

The Declaration of war by Canada on Germany was announced in a speech made by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King on 10 September 1939, just 7 days after the joint British and French declaration. Though Mackenzie King was in Ottawa, Canada, at the time of his speech, it was broadcast over the radio. There was also a Canadian announcement in the Canadian newspaper, the Canada Gazette.

The Speech
Below is the speech, given by William Lyon Mackenzie King:

The Newspaper Article
The following was printed in the Canadian newspaper, Canada Gazette, the morning following William Lyon Mackenzie King's declaration of war against Nazi Germany.

{{quotation| The Canada Gazette

PROCLAMATION

TWEEDSMUIR,

[L.S.]

CANADA

GEORGE THE SIXTH, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas KING, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come or whom the same may in anywise concern.

{{right|GREETING:}} A PROCLAMATION

Ernest Lapointe, Attorney General, Canada } WHEREAS by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada We have signified Our Approval of the issue a Proclamation in the Canada Gazette declaring that a State of War with the German Reich exists and has existed in Our Dominion of Canada as and from the tenth day of September, 1939;

NOW THEREFOR We do hereby Declare and Proclaim that a State of War with the German Reich exists and has existed in Our Dominion of Canada as and from the tenth day of September, 1939.

OF ALL WHICH Our Loving Subjects and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed. WITNESS: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved John. Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield, a Member of Our Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Micheal and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of Our Royal Victorian Order, Member of Our Order of the Companions of Honour, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Our Dominion of Canada.

AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE [ Rideau Hall ], in Our City of Ottawa, this tenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine and in the Third year of Our Reign.

By Command.

W. L. MACKENZIE KING

Prime Minister of Canada. }}

Historical Context
After Hitler's rise to power, starting in 1933, he began to look towards other countries. In 1934, Poland and Germany signed the German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact. According to the pact, Germany and Poland were to it was made to " introduce a new phase in the political relationships between Germany and Poland...." The pact also stated that Germany and Poland were to "not hinder the peaceful development of their mutual relations...." It also agreed that, "should any disputes arise between them and agreement theron not be reached by any direct negotiation, they will in each particular case, on the basis of mutual agreement, seek a solution by other peaceful means, without prejudice to the possibility of applying, if necessary, those methods of procedure in which provision is made for such cases in other agreements in force between them. In no circumstances, however, will they proceed to the application of force for the purpose of reaching a decision in such disputes." The treaty was supposed to last ten years, after which, it could be renewed. It only lasted five.