Jake Warren

Jack Hamilton Warren, usually known as Jake, served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War before entering External Affairs in 1945. His career concentrated on trade: he represented Canada in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, led the trade and commerce department, and served as high commissioner in London before moving to Washington. ¹

As ambassador in 1976, Warren warned Ottawa that American political influence was shifting toward the South and West, where Canada was less familiar to voters and politicians. He examined the appeal of both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and the implications of a more nationalist American foreign policy. After his Washington appointment, he became Canada’s chief spokesman at multilateral trade negotiations and later worked in banking and as a trade adviser to Quebec. ^{2, 1}