Scholar in Politics

Reaching outside politics, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker last week picked an unexpected recruit as Canada's new Secretary of State for External Affairs. His choice: Sidney Earle Smith, 60, president of the University of Toronto. A portly, affable man with silvering hair, a booming conversational voice and a politician's knack for remembering names, Dr. Smith had never held a political office, but he is better known across Canada than many of his Cabinet colleagues.

Young President. Educated at Halifax's Dalhousie University and the Harvard Law School, Smith taught law at Dalhousie, at 37 became Canada's youngest university president (University of Manitoba), has headed the University of Toronto since 1945. There he got a reputation for phrasemaking and outspoken intolerance of parents who send their children to college "just to prove there's nothing wrong with them." He told incoming students: "If you have come here to be a personality kid and win friends and influence people, you might get what you are after, but it would have been quicker and cheaper to take a course in salesmanship. If you spend your spare time playing bridge, you will be a good bridge player; if you spend it in reading, discussing and thinking of things that matter, you will be an educated person."

Twice Dr. Smith turned his back on opportunities to start in politics near the top. In 1942 and again last year, when the Conservative Party was seeking a new national leader, Smith's name was hopefully suggested by politicos; each time he firmly--if with just a suggestion of regret --squelched the Smith-for-leader boom. Since he is not a Member of Parliament, Smith cannot speak in the House of Commons. Diefenbaker will have to find a seat for him, is expected to promote some Tory to the Senate and let Smith run in the resulting by-election.

New Ballplayer. Though Smith has spoken his views on many things, he has said little on foreign affairs; and the first thing reporters asked the beaming Smith after he was sworn in was his general views on foreign policy. As Prime Minister Diefenbaker watched anxiously, Smith replied: "Let me tell you a story. Charlie Comiskey of the White Sox brought a young pitcher up from the minors, sent him to the mound, and saw this young fellow's first three pitches blasted from the park. Comiskey went out to the catcher and asked: 'What's he got on the ball?' The catcher answered: 'I don't know. I haven't caught one yet.'

This week Dr. Smith will have a chance to show what he has on the ball when he arrives in Manhattan to take over the leadership of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.