A BRITISH CANADA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 143, 23 July 1914, Page 6

A BRITISH CANADA.

THE PROBLEM OF FOREIGN POPULATIONS.

WHAT WILL THEY BECOME?

"The question of the development of Canada, as an independent unit, of the Empire, either along British lines as they present themselves in the Mother Country or along others, is what confronts us now," said the London "Times"; "and our Canadian correspondent warns us gravely that the prevailing tendencies are towards what may be generally called 'Americanisation.'

"We hope that statesmen in the Mother Country," -adds "The Times," "and indeed all those who are capable of thinking seriously about the future of the Empire, will take its warning to heart. As time goes on, are all things working, as they should, for a British Canada in the future, or for an American? This problem, as our correspondent points out, has become further complicated o£ late years, and is becoming increasingly important." . Never Another Britain. ''1)o the British people understand or reflect upon the complexity of the Imperial problem in Canada ?" asks "The Times" correspondent. "The Vancouver 'News-Advertiser' said the other dav: —

" 'There never will be another Britain, and Canada could not reproduce any other land without treason to her own great opportunity to express herse*'-

"In this, no doubt, the 'News-Ad-vertiser' expresses the feeling of the most Imperial Province in the Dominion, and for the time the general sentiment of the country. But what of the future? Can we prophesy with confidence t Is there a growth or a decline of British feeling! It seems to be the fashion in Great Britain to regard Canada as bound by historic tradition, by long association, by common interest and common sentiment, to the Mother Country. An Independent Canadian Republic. " This was the fact when a dominant English and 'French population pos-

ladians had the 'balance of power' in | politics, and when there was no serious (pressure of commercial or social influences from outside and no considerable admixture of foreign elements within. But through the enormous inflow of immigrants new conditions appear and new problems demand consideration. Probably we can inspire all these elements with a common Canadian patriotism. Is it so certain that they can be moulded into a common devotion to the Empire! Is it so certain that they will never be attracted by the vision of an independent Canadian Republic?

A Mixed Seven Millions.

"According to the last census we had a total population of 7,206,643. Of these 1,82::, 150 were English, 1,050,384 Irish, and 997,880 Scots. Of French we had 2,054,890, and of Germans 393,320. We had also 129,108 AustroHungarians, 9503 Belgians, 5875 Bulgarians and Roumanians, 54,986 Dutch,, 3594 Greeks, 2342 Hindus, 9021 Japanese, 27,774 Chinese, 45,411 Italians, 75,081 Jews, 33,365 Poles, 43,142 Russians, 107,533 Scandinavians, 6625 Swiss, and 185,032 of doubtful or undiscovered relationship. Quebec had a total population of 2,003,232, of whom 1,605,339 were French. Ontario had 202,442 French in a total jjopulation of 2,523,274. With a population of 455,614, Manitoba had 30,944 French,. 16,021 Germans, 39,665 Austro-Hnngarians, 2,453 Belgians, 2853 Dutch, 10,741 .lews, 12,310 Poles, 8841

Russians, and 16,419 Scandinavians. In Alberta, with a total population of 374,663, there were 19,825 French, 36,862 Germans, 26,427 Austro-Hungari-ans, 1269 Belgians, 956 Bulgarians and Roumanians, 2951 Dutch, 2243 Poles, 9421 Russians, and 28,047 Scandinavi-' ans. With a total population of 492,432, Saskatchewan had . 23,251. French, 68,628 Germans, 41,651 Austro-Hungari-ans, 1538 Belgians, 2336 Bulgarians and* Roumanians, 2684 Dutch, 3785 Poles, 18,413 Russians, and 33,991.Scandinavians. In British Columbia there were 19,568 Chinese and 8587 Japanese. Foreigners Balance the British Population.

"Mainly in Saskatchewan and Alberta we have between 400,000 and (500,000 people who have come over from the United States, chiefly, perhaps, of foreign .origin, who, with the bulk of immigrants from Europe, must profoundly affect conditions in Western Canada. They can have no natural loyalty to Great Britain, no enthusiasm for the British Empire, no inherited conception of British ideals. Even now the French and foreign elements nearly balance the population of British origin. The French are passive loyalists and devoted Canadians, but they are not generally favourable to closer political co-operation with the Mother Country. During the war in South Africa ttlie attitude of. the French Canadians closely resembled that of the

Irish Nationalists. This is not said in, criticism or reproach, but in simple de-* ference to historical accuracy. Wild doubts that any movement to establish a Canadian Republic would have support in Quebec? Canada's Invisible Boundary. ; "Canada occupies no such isolated ! position as Australia or New Zealand or South Africa. In Europe movement of population is obstructed by differences of language, conditions, and customs. Canada and the United States have common traditions and common institutions, a common language, and a c.ornmo'h faith. They are separated for hundreds of miles by an invisible boundary. In the Dominion pour multitudes vyho will quickly develop a Canadian patriotism. What attitude will they take towards Great Britain and the Empire?"

Hindus Knocking at the Gate. Then there is the question of whether coloured subjects of the British Empire should be admitted. This has been emphasised by the fact that 375, Hindus have been vainly seeking entrance at the Westward Gate of Canada: These Hindus arrived at Yaxreoaver on a Japanese ship, the Komogata Maru, to establish their claim to be allowed to' settle in Canada, It is felt that the Hindu leaders have issued a deliberate challenge to Canada and that the ; au-; thority of the Dominion is at stakes Two or three of the Canadian journals' express sympathy with the Hindus, and suggest that the Empire cannot exist if , there is not free movement for British; subjects throughdut all the British Do-' minions, but the general argument is : that the Dominions must exercise eontrol over immigration, and that the Pacific Coast must be protected against any general invasion of Asiatics. The Liabilities, of Brotherhood. In a suggestive -article dealing with this question, which appears in the '' Challenge,' * a very different side of . the problem is set forth:—

"It means that we are entering* on an epoch Of the world's history when, through the enlarged means- of communication, all races have beenvbr ought together as they never were before. And, even in the twentieth century after Christ, such close contact must spell enmity, for the masses .of men thrown together before they are" ready for it. Asia is awake as never before. "For the Christian Church the greati problem is what it really means by its talk of human brotherhood. If 'it "is' only talk, confounded by the facts of the world, it would be better to dtop it at once —that means for the Christian Church to abolish itself, since its basis would thereby be gone. If the Church means still, in the clash of the interests and passions and appetites of to go on with its old proclamation of the world-wide love of God, it can never countenance any part of the human family holding against Others more than its fair share of the goods of the earth."