James George (diplomat)
James George (born September 14, 1918 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian diplomat, political and environmental activist, author, and "spiritual seeker." A founder of the Threshold Foundation and president of the Sadat Peace Foundation, he led the Friends of the Earth international mission to Kuwait and the Persian Gulf to assess post-war environmental damage.
Education
George received a Littauer Fellowship to Harvard University, and was a 1940 Rhodes Scholar for Ontario, studying at Upper Canada College, Trinity College, and University of Toronto, and was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Sacred Letters by Trinity College, University of Toronto, at its May Convocation.
Career
George served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II, attaining to the rank of Lt. Commander, following which he represented Canada at the United Nations, and later before NATO. He then served as High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 1960–64, High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal 1967–72, and Ambassador to Iran and the Gulf States 1972–77.Commonwealth Secretary-General Arnold Smith credited George with helping to contain the conflict between India and Pakistan in 1971, when East Pakistan became Bangladesh.