Etheridge, Nick: an assessment of the interaction between Canadian diplomats and the military (March 15, 2019)

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An interview/narrative of Nick Etheridge's experiences with the diplomatic service. Interview took place on March 15, 2019 in Victoria, B.C.

ABSTRACT: 0:00—3:57—Basic biographic information, education details, and military service, as well as motivation for joining diplomatic service. 3:57—5:45—Languages spoken and required. 5:52—9:10—Chronology of career (various overseas posts). 9:15— 10:10—Description of his first overseas posting in Canberra, Australia. 10:23—12:05—Career specialization in “political/economic stream.” 12:05—13:56—Description of the various size and number of employees in embassies. 14:09—17:47—Description of his time on ICC and ICCS from 1972-73. 17:54—18:19—Description of the Canadian office in Hanoi. 18:42—23:25—Functions and role of the ICC/ICCS and description of life in Vietnam. 23:40—29:10—Canadian involvement in the ICC/ICCS and interaction with US. 29:11—32:39—ICCS meetings in Saigon in 1973 and “open mouth” diplomacy. 33:15—37:55— ICC/ICCS composition and Canada-India relations. 37:55—41:05 —Atlanticist focus in Canadian foreign policy. 41:21— 42:04—Interaction with the Hungarian and Polish ICCS delegations in Saigon. 42:05—43:12—Social and work interaction with other delegations and North Vietnamese in Hanoi. 43:12—46:09—Interactions between delegations in Saigon (1973) and in later Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) assignments in Geneva, Belgrade, and Madrid. 46:20—50:30—ICCS field outposts in South Vietnam. 50:33—54:35—Interactions with military personnel (i. e. type of work) and the importance of co-operation. 54:36—55:31—Description of US Airforce B-52 and F-111 raids on Hanoi in December 1972. 55:35—1:02:11—Assessment of the interaction between civilians and military in the ICC and ICCS. 1:02:30—1:05:24 —Reflection on the work between diplomats and military personnel conducted as a part of the ICC and ICCS. 1:05:49—1:09:45—Personal reflection on views towards communism and the Cold War. 1:09:56—1:13:01—Assessment of “open mouth” diplomacy. 1:13:10— 1:14:05—Daily life and activities in Hanoi in 1972. 1:14:13—1:15:33 —North Vietnamese observation of the Canadian delegation in Hanoi. 1:16:17—1:21:13 —Description of the removal of an incendiary grenade from the Canadian office by the North Vietnamese Army. 1:21:33—1:30:25 —Interaction with other delegations, both in Vietnam and throughout the rest of his career. 1:30:26—1:33:06—Interaction with Chinese Ambassador in Hanoi. 1:33:22—1:36:56 —Received ICCS and Peacekeeping Medals. 1:37:07—1:42:09—Description of interaction with military throughout the rest of career (i. e. in Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh). 1:42:48—1:44:21 —The views of diplomats towards military attachés. 1:44:40—1:46:43 —Understanding of diplomats towards the military. 1:47:03—1:51:11—Addressing where the literature could be improved concerning Canada’s role on the ICC and ICCS and interactions between diplomats and the military. 1:51:12—1:51:28—End of interview Suggested Clips for Archives: 54:36—55:31—Description of US Airforce B-52 and F-111 raids on Hanoi in December 1972. 1:16:17—1:21:13 —Description of the removal of an incendiary grenade from the Canadian office by the North Vietnamese Army. 1:30:26—1:33:06—Interaction with Chinese Ambassador in Hanoi.

Interviewee: Etheridge, Nick

Interviewer: McGuire, Stewart H. "Harry"

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 48.4359, -123.35155
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • EN_874
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 15, 2019
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2019. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI

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