GB 3172 SMITH - SMITH, Arnold (1915-1994)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 3172 SMITH

Title

SMITH, Arnold (1915-1994)

Date(s)

  • 1965 -1976 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

211 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born 1915 in Toronto, 1915; educated at University of Toronto, gained BA (Juris) and BCL degrees from Oxford where he was a Rhodes scholar; editor The Baltic Times and Associate Professor of Political Economy, University of Tartu, 1939-1940; Press Attaché British Embassy, Cairo and lecturer in political science and economics, Egyptian State University 1940-1943; joined the Canadian Diplomatic service working in Moscow 1943-1945; after Ottawa; Associate Director National Defence College of Canada 1947- Alternate Permanent Delegate of Canada on UN Security Council and UN Atomic Energy Commission, 1949-1950; Counsellor, Canadian Embassy, Brussels 1950-1953; also Head of Canadian Delegation to Inter-Allied Reparations Agency, 1950-1953; Special Assistant to Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa 1953-1955; International Truce Commissioner, Cambodia 1955-1956; Canadian Minister, London 1956-1958; Canadian Ambassador to United Arab Republic, 1958-1961 and to USSR 1961-1963; Assistant Under Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa 1963-1965; elected First Secretary-General of Commonwealth 1965, re elected 1970 serving until1975; awarded membership to the order of the Companions of Honour, 1975; Lester B. Pearson Professor of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa 1976-1981; Life Vice-President, Royal Commonwealth Society; Officer of the Order of Canada,1984; additionally involved in numerous international organization; died 1994.

Publications: Stitches in Time: The Commonwealth in World Politics (Andre Deutsch, London,1981); The We-They Frontier: From International Relations to World Politics (Leeds University, Leeds,1983); Multilateral Negotiations and Mediations: Instruments and Methods (ed. Arthur Lall) (International Peace Academy [by] Pergamon Press, New York, 1985).

Archival history

GB 3172 SMITH 1965 -1976 Collection (fonds) 211 files Smith , Arnold Cantwell , 1915-1994 , first Commonwealth Secretary-General

Born 1915 in Toronto, 1915; educated at University of Toronto, gained BA (Juris) and BCL degrees from Oxford where he was a Rhodes scholar; editor The Baltic Times and Associate Professor of Political Economy, University of Tartu, 1939-1940; Press Attaché British Embassy, Cairo and lecturer in political science and economics, Egyptian State University 1940-1943; joined the Canadian Diplomatic service working in Moscow 1943-1945; after Ottawa; Associate Director National Defence College of Canada 1947- Alternate Permanent Delegate of Canada on UN Security Council and UN Atomic Energy Commission, 1949-1950; Counsellor, Canadian Embassy, Brussels 1950-1953; also Head of Canadian Delegation to Inter-Allied Reparations Agency, 1950-1953; Special Assistant to Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa 1953-1955; International Truce Commissioner, Cambodia 1955-1956; Canadian Minister, London 1956-1958; Canadian Ambassador to United Arab Republic, 1958-1961 and to USSR 1961-1963; Assistant Under Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa 1963-1965; elected First Secretary-General of Commonwealth 1965, re elected 1970 serving until1975; awarded membership to the order of the Companions of Honour, 1975; Lester B. Pearson Professor of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa 1976-1981; Life Vice-President, Royal Commonwealth Society; Officer of the Order of Canada,1984; additionally involved in numerous international organization; died 1994.

Publications: Stitches in Time: The Commonwealth in World Politics (Andre Deutsch, London,1981); The We-They Frontier: From International Relations to World Politics (Leeds University, Leeds,1983); Multilateral Negotiations and Mediations: Instruments and Methods (ed. Arthur Lall) (International Peace Academy [by] Pergamon Press, New York, 1985).

The Commonwealth Secretariat.

Created during Smith's time in office, 1965-1975, the collection comprises of papers arranged under the following sections: International Affairs 1965-1975, contains material on the Heads of Government and the Senior Officials Meetings, additionally there are Country Files and the records of the Secretary-General's Visits which detail specific issues such as Rhodesia and Southern African or the Anguilla dispute with St Kitts. These records also contain informative country briefs prepared by the Secretariats divisions. There are a small number of files on the issue of sanctions and on liaison with other organization. Economic Affairs 1964-1976, material comprises of the Finance Ministers Meetings, work on Commodities plus a significant number relating to liaison with EEC as well as other organisations. The Education 1969-1976, Legal Activities 1970-1975, and the Health 1969-1975, sections mainly concern the relevant Commonwealth conferences. Files in Science and Technology 1968-1973, address specific issues such as metrication, mining and metallurgy. Food Production and Rural Technology 1975, comprises of conference material and Youth 1972-1975, mainly details youth awards. Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) 1968-1976, comprises of records relating to the governance of the CFTC as well as to specific projects undertaken. Smith's speeches and other public addresses are located in the Information 1966-1975, section. The Secretary-General's files in Secretariat Administration 1965-1976, cover internal meetings of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, some aspects relating to individual divisions as well as preparation for the Annual Reports. Commonwealth and International Organisations 1965-1975, details co-operation and liaison with institutions such as Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Commonwealth Broadcasting Association; Commonwealth Foundation; La Francophonie; Commonwealth Institute; International Planned Parenthood Federation and United Nations.

As outlined above in Scope and Content.

All records listed are in the public domain.

Normal copyright restrictions apply.
English

Arnold Smith Papers, Commonwealth Secretariat, Library and Archives. Also available at www.thecommonwealth.org/archive

Library and Archives Canada, holds records covering Arnold Smith's public career as a diplomat and educator and aspects of his personal life. Papers from his time as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, include copies of papers written or received by him, Commonwealth reports, his speeches, appointment books and press clippings. (Archival Reference R527-0-X-E).

Source: Who's Who; Arnold Cantwell Smith Fonds, Library and Archives Canada, (Archival Reference R527-0-X-E). Compiled by Hilary McEwan. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 14 December 2007 African history Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Commonwealth countries Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Institute Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Diplomacy EEC , European Economic Community x European Economic Community Foreign relations International cooperation International Planned Parenthood Federation International politics International relations La Francophonie National history Political systems Smith , Arnold Cantwell , 1915-1994 , first Commonwealth Secretary-General United Nations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The Commonwealth Secretariat.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Created during Smith's time in office, 1965-1975, the collection comprises of papers arranged under the following sections: International Affairs 1965-1975, contains material on the Heads of Government and the Senior Officials Meetings, additionally there are Country Files and the records of the Secretary-General's Visits which detail specific issues such as Rhodesia and Southern African or the Anguilla dispute with St Kitts. These records also contain informative country briefs prepared by the Secretariats divisions. There are a small number of files on the issue of sanctions and on liaison with other organization. Economic Affairs 1964-1976, material comprises of the Finance Ministers Meetings, work on Commodities plus a significant number relating to liaison with EEC as well as other organisations. The Education 1969-1976, Legal Activities 1970-1975, and the Health 1969-1975, sections mainly concern the relevant Commonwealth conferences. Files in Science and Technology 1968-1973, address specific issues such as metrication, mining and metallurgy. Food Production and Rural Technology 1975, comprises of conference material and Youth 1972-1975, mainly details youth awards. Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) 1968-1976, comprises of records relating to the governance of the CFTC as well as to specific projects undertaken. Smith's speeches and other public addresses are located in the Information 1966-1975, section. The Secretary-General's files in Secretariat Administration 1965-1976, cover internal meetings of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, some aspects relating to individual divisions as well as preparation for the Annual Reports. Commonwealth and International Organisations 1965-1975, details co-operation and liaison with institutions such as Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Commonwealth Broadcasting Association; Commonwealth Foundation; La Francophonie; Commonwealth Institute; International Planned Parenthood Federation and United Nations.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

As outlined above in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

All records listed are in the public domain.

Conditions governing reproduction

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Arnold Smith Papers, Commonwealth Secretariat, Library and Archives. Also available at www.thecommonwealth.org/archive

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Library and Archives Canada, holds records covering Arnold Smith's public career as a diplomat and educator and aspects of his personal life. Papers from his time as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, include copies of papers written or received by him, Commonwealth reports, his speeches, appointment books and press clippings. (Archival Reference R527-0-X-E).

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Commonwealth Secretariat

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area