Ross Campbell (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Ross Campbell was a Canadian
Diplomat
, working as a member of the Canadian External Affairs Department. He held diplomatic posts throughout the world including Norway
, Denmark
, and Turkey
, and served as Canada's Ambassador
to Yugoslavia
, Algeria
, Korea
, and Japan
. Between 1967 - 1972 Campbell served as ambassador to NATO. Upon finishing diplomatic service Campbell was appointed chairman of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
.
from 1940-1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
by King George VI
in 1944 for his work in Motor Torpedo Boat
s. During his tour of duty Campbell took park in two North African invasions and others in Italy
, Greece
and Normandy
. Campbell ended the war as a Lieutenant Commander
. Soon after the end of the Second World War Campbell married Penelope "Pippa" Grantham-Hill in England
.
, Denmark
, and Turkey
. During postings in Ottawa he served as a special assistant, the head of the Middle East
division, and the assistant under-secretary of state for External Affairs. He was a member of the Canadian delegation to the General Assembly
during the Suez Crisis
in 1956. Campbell was appointed as Canada's first Ambassador to Yugoslavia
, concurrently being accredited as Ambassador to Algeria
while residing in Yugoslavia.
In 1967 Campbell was appointed as the Canadian ambassador to NATO. As part of his appointment he served as a Canada's representative on NATO's Nuclear Planning Group. He was known as a blunt-spoken diplomat who believed in the Cold War
war realities of NATO. This came at a time when the Liberal cabinet led by Pierre Trudeau
questioned the value of NATO and contemplated revoking membership within the alliance. Campbell was firm in his view that without NATO, the Soviet Union
would have opportunity to overthrow the countries of Western Europe. Campbell held that NATO existed to preserve European territorial integrity, security, and social and economic well-being. Further, Campbell argued that NATO acted as Canada's admission card to the negotiating tables of the Western Alliance. After his NATO assignment ended in 1972, Campbell was appointed as the ambassador to Japan.
. His appointment came at a time when charges where being laid against the company for corruption. Campbell's primary responsibility with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited was to sell CANDU reactor's
to foreign governments. Upon finishing work with AECL Campbell in 1983 founded, and became a partner of InterCon Consultants along with retired General Frederick Ralph Sharp. Despite his retirement from government Campbell remained outspoken over his views of NATO.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, working as a member of the Canadian External Affairs Department. He held diplomatic posts throughout the world including Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and served as Canada's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Between 1967 - 1972 Campbell served as ambassador to NATO. Upon finishing diplomatic service Campbell was appointed chairman of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited or AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory...
.
Education and Second World War
Campbell studied Law at the University of Toronto, upon graduation he volunteered for military service. He served with the Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
from 1940-1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
by King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in 1944 for his work in Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s. During his tour of duty Campbell took park in two North African invasions and others in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Campbell ended the war as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. Soon after the end of the Second World War Campbell married Penelope "Pippa" Grantham-Hill in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Foreign Service
Campbell began his career with External Affairs with postings in NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. During postings in Ottawa he served as a special assistant, the head of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
division, and the assistant under-secretary of state for External Affairs. He was a member of the Canadian delegation to the General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
in 1956. Campbell was appointed as Canada's first Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, concurrently being accredited as Ambassador to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
while residing in Yugoslavia.
In 1967 Campbell was appointed as the Canadian ambassador to NATO. As part of his appointment he served as a Canada's representative on NATO's Nuclear Planning Group. He was known as a blunt-spoken diplomat who believed in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
war realities of NATO. This came at a time when the Liberal cabinet led by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
questioned the value of NATO and contemplated revoking membership within the alliance. Campbell was firm in his view that without NATO, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
would have opportunity to overthrow the countries of Western Europe. Campbell held that NATO existed to preserve European territorial integrity, security, and social and economic well-being. Further, Campbell argued that NATO acted as Canada's admission card to the negotiating tables of the Western Alliance. After his NATO assignment ended in 1972, Campbell was appointed as the ambassador to Japan.
Post Foreign Service
Upon his retirement from Canadian diplomatic corps, Campbell was appointed chairman of Atomic Energy of Canada LimitedAtomic Energy of Canada Limited
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited or AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory...
. His appointment came at a time when charges where being laid against the company for corruption. Campbell's primary responsibility with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited was to sell CANDU reactor's
CANDU reactor
The CANDU reactor is a Canadian-invented, pressurized heavy water reactor. The acronym refers to its deuterium-oxide moderator and its use of uranium fuel...
to foreign governments. Upon finishing work with AECL Campbell in 1983 founded, and became a partner of InterCon Consultants along with retired General Frederick Ralph Sharp. Despite his retirement from government Campbell remained outspoken over his views of NATO.