"A GREAT STEP FORWARD."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 10

"A GREAT STEP FORWARD."

Sir, —In; a leading article which' appeared in The Dominion of the lltli inst., occurred thoT following sentence'' The < • Canadian points bitterly to the eastern, to the middle, to the western boundary, to territory .which by right, he says, should' havo: been Canadian soil, but . which' was '-sacrificed,' all of it,. ; that. Great Britain might remain on friendly terms, with the United States." There is ii -'trilling .misplacement of terms in the concluding words,' which should read: "That Canada might remain on friendly terms with "the United States," for that is the . true explanation of any apparent undue yielding by Great Britain in . negotiations with tho United States. . Canada is .the weak point, and it'is wholly on account ( 6f Canada that' Great Britain is weak in any disputes with America, although Canadians seem; to be wholly unable to" recognise tho-fact. In the absence of Canada the Old Country would feel. no embarrassment' in dealing with tho United States, and would enjoy a perfectly free- hand; but she has always to consider that : in the event of hostilities, Canada would bo the first to suffer; and, in the conduct of negotiations,' when a point is reached where neither will recede from a certain position; war.'is the only solution; but I doubt :v-vy much if Canada would be prepared to yo to war. with the United States for bait on t!io Banks of Newfoundland, or fishing in l!ie Bay of Fundy.

i Tlio fooling of dissatisfaction on the paii of Canada in connection with the. settleiiiwit of the various questions .which have ar'-en with the United States is both unjust and .unreasonable; and the best thing for her; is to see if, in ,tho case of any'future disputes, can do'botter by herself. Further oil in the same articlo s an extract from the "Montreal Star/Mas follow;!:. "Our understanding," .said the "Star,''; "with, regard to .'the navy, is that' Great Britain is to-day ' putting, up' a navy for both of us while we create new' provinces, build now transcontinental railways/ construct new canal'systems—all of use in th? military sense.. If this does not imply that we. have a right to expect protection from the British., navy when we need it, and u.r quarrel is just, the sooner we know it -.tho better for all concerned."

On a calm consideration of the above I think it will'be-found to embody an assertion 1 of tho .most unblushing selfishness'that can be imagined. Canada contribates nothing towards the maintenance of the British navy, and. for what reason should the British taxpayer, bear the csponso-'-'&f protecting Canadian commerce, and tho Canadian coast, in order that Canada may spend the money which she ought to do vol:;'10 iliac purpose in developing nor own territories, from which the British taxpayer derives no benefit whatever? Canada, you say, is a gicrit nation, or fast becoming on", and -it is not the custom for great nations, to rely upon the eleemosynary aid of other countries ■for their protection. Now Zealand is'in a' different T.oMticn, for she is not yet a great nation, Klthi/awi* the chosen country of tho Almightv, mic! alio does-contribute something towards thq naw, but there is here also too great a desi: o. io blcpd thfe unfortunate British taxpvur when something, chiefly , for the benefit of Nov Zealand, is wanted, such as an additional mail lino (which the Old Country does iiot want), or another cable, and this in fa-::e of the fact that tho cost is to come principally out of the pockets of those people vhosp condition is so much commiserated, and with whom comparisons are so frequently jnsdo' to their disadvantage as regards tlio pio'sperity of New Zealand and the pauperism'of Groat Britain. . . .

' When British men-o'-war visit New Zealand they are not looked upon • wish very grout favour at all places, and only a few weeks ago a member of'tho Lyttcltnii P arbour Board objected to the launch bei'iif lent for tho use of " His Majesty's shins." "■ Australia , has cancelled her contribution to tho navy, and has formulated a scheriio for a navy of her own. which wil' piobablv never bo put in practice, but will servo r,*s an excuse for tho withdrawal of the 'subsidy.' Wke Canada, both Australia unci i\ T ew Zealand havo boon dissatisfied with Great Britain for not risking a war with France and Germany in order to add, in the ;oase of Australia, to her already superabundant territory, and that New Zealand might acquire another island or two in the Pacific ■for "His Majesty's ships" to take p.i'rc of at the oxpense also of the less prodpoioiis British taxpayer.—l am, etc., ■ V A. S. ALDRICH. Farftparaumu, April 14.