An Innocent conspiracy : the round table in Canada, 1908-1921

The first quarter of this century, Round Table groups in Britain and the Dominions worked to produce an objective study of Imperial relations, and discussed the possibility of formulating a scheme of closer union for the Empire. Despite the Round Table's protestations of impartiality, many contemporary critics believed that it was a propagandist organization promoting a specific policy of organic union. Today, there is still a certain mystery about the rationale and ultimate purpose of the Round Table. This thesis is an attempt to clarify the picture by examining the relationship between the British and Canadian Round Table groups, and the motivations of both. The paper will focus on the Round Table in Canada, exploring the hopes and policies of the groups themselves, and the way they were seen by others. In conclusion, it is argued that the accusations of disingenuity were unfounded, that the Canadian Round Table was an innocent conspiracy.