Charles Jost Burchell

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Charles Jost Burchell, P.C., was a Canadian diplomat. He served as Canada's first High Commissioner to Australia from 1939 to 1941 and as Canada's first and last High Commissioner to the Dominion of Newfoundland serving from 1941 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1949.

The diplomatic mission was opened a year after Canadian troops were sent to Newfoundland to assist in its defence during World War II. The Canadian government deemed it necessary to establish formal diplomatic relations in order to deal with defence matters particularly once American troops began arriving on the island as well necessitating a diplomatic officer who could also engage with the American military.^[1]

Burchell also raised the possibility of the island, which was then ruled by a British appointed Commission of Government, might join Canadian Confederation following the war. He "quietly sounded out prominent St. John’s citizens on Confederation and quietly encouraged St. John’s lawyer John McEvoy to promote publicly Confederation between the two countries." Burchell concluded that the restoration of responsible government by Britain may have to occur before the island would consider joining Canada.^[2]

Jost's initial term as High Commissioner was from 1941 to 1944 when he was succeeded by James Macdonald however, he would serve a second sojurn from 1948 to 1949.

The mission remained following the war in order to deal with the withdrawal of American troops, negotiate a 99 year lease for a Canadian military airbase at Goose Bay and, ultimately, to negotiate Newfoundland's entry into Canadian Confederation following the 1948 Newfoundland referendums. Jost was sent back to Newfoundland in 1948 in order to negotiate the British colony's terms of union with Canada.^[1]

The High Commission was closed on March 31, 1949 shortly before Newfoundland officially became a Canadian province. On April 1, 1949, Buchell was named to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in recognition of his work as High Commissioner.