CANADA AND FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 66, 18 March 1907, Page 4

CANADA AND FEDERATION.

Sir Wilfred Laurier mil certainly be one of the most notable figures at the coming Colonial Conference; and no British statesman of the age has done more for Imperialism and the causes which all loyal Britishers have at heart. But, aa a recent Canadian cable informs us, ho is not and never has been in favour of a permanent Imperial Council. Indeed, Sir W. Laurier has never made nay secret of the fact that he has little faith in any material or formal scheme of Imperial Federation. The fact that the Dominion Premier is the natural representative of the French section of the Canadian populace will to some extent account for this. For the French Canadians cling devotedly to their racial peculiarities and privileges, and they fear, as one of their number has said, that the Federation of the Empire would mean " their submergence in the rising tide of AngloSaxondom." But we may doubt if any sentiment of this sort would be sufficiently powerful to determine th& views of, so acute and far-seeing a statesman, as Sir W. Laurier. What he sees most clearly is that it will be extremely difficult to adjust the responsibilities and the duties of England's colonies between. themselves and tho ;&fotbe£-fidsn^jjjoi^

such a way as to base any; practicable scheme of Federation upon them. And it must be admitted that all schemes vet suggested, either involving or excluding direct representation of the colonies in the Imperial Council, present many obvious defects and dangers. Moreover, in virtue of Canada's peculiar position with regard to the United States and her recent bitter experiences in negotiating with the Americans, Sir W. Laurier holds that it would be wiser to give a larger inojviduality and wider independence to some of the great self-governing colonies. If Imperial Federation as a practical device rather than a vague but powerful sentiment, should be forced 4o the front at the next Imperial Conference, the movement will not receive much help or sympathy from Canada or Sir Wilfred Laurier-