A Pluralist in North America (1914–20)

Abstract

Laski arrived at McGill University with great enthusiasm, intent on becoming a successful teacher who would make a major contri-bution to his subject. He achieved this goal, but his two years in Montreal did not fulfil his hopes. The whole ethos of the university was completely at variance with his ideas and character. Despite the multilingual nature of the city, McGill was then the university of English-speaking Montreal, and seemed determined to maintain this stance. Moreover, the Principal was Sir William Peterson, an austere Scottish classicist, who looked back to the ‘home-country’ and re-garded Montreal as ‘the outskirts of the Empire, in Britain’s chief colony.’¹ History was a minor part of a science-dominated university and Peterson was anxious to build stronger links with Montreal commerce — an aim with which Laski had no sympathy. However, Peterson was prepared to raise his salary and confirm his appoint-ment for a second year only on condition that he gave some time during the summer vacation ‘to the interests of the proposed school of Higher Commercial Studies’.2 Finally, the two differed totally on the war. For Peterson, it provided a sense of purpose, for he now saw his main responsibility as ensuring that Canada played its full part in maintaining the Empire. Laski remained ambivalent about the war itself and completely opposed to any sign of imperialism. It seems that the Principal’s position was far closer to the general view for, when Laski gave an address attacking Lloyd George’s war policy, there were urgent demands for his dismissal.³