The Doiminion. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1909. A PORTENT FROM CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 669, 20 November 1909, Page 4

The Doiminion. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1909. A PORTENT FROM CANADA.

Most people in this quarter of the world muit hayc receive'd,,an unpleasant shook when they read in'yesterday morning's cable news the Ottawa telegram conveying the newspaper The Citizen's comment upon gin WiLfKiD Lauribr's reference to Canadian naval policy. But when We hear that the Canadian Prime , Minister has said that "the Canadian Navy would not participate in a war waged by Britain unjess the Parliament of Canada eaw fit," we do not bo much desire to 1 know that The Citizen'^ thinks this state- ' ment "comes near to a declaration of in-' dependence" as to know of the ' statement. There are some people in New ' Zealand who, without giving a thought to it, will quote tie cable message as conclusive proof of'the treachery behind.the , local navy idea. We use tho word treachory, because the whole, of Sie Joseph Ward's defence of his own naval policy' has tended to en-' courage tho idea that it is treachery rather than folly that has led the Canadian and Australian Governments to disagree with him? Sir Wilfrid Laurier's statement sounds very alarming indeed, especially when accompanied by The Citizen's comment'upon it, buj; it will probably be found, when .full details are available, that Sir Wilfrid's object was, not to affirm tho likelihood of a Canadian ' refusal to join Britain in the,event v of war, hut to make clear the completeness of Canada's freedom to do as she choosee with her Navy in that event. There is not only nothing new in this doctrine; there is nothing in it that British statesmen have not already accepted. The moro affirmation of Canada's reservation of her right to dispose her Navy in accordance with Canada's, and not Britain's, feelings is nothing in, itself. Evon if it were actually, and not "nearly," "a declaration of independence," there would still' Ije nothing in it to alarm any Imperialist who has/kept even loosely hi touch with recent political developments, For British policy is already settled, not only in speeches made inside and outfcide tho House of Commons, by his Majesiy's Ministers, but also in official dispatches, on the basis of the perfect autonomy of the "Eolf-governing" colonies in local and Imperial—but of course not in international—affaire. Sir Wilfrid Lattriee long ago stated his position in a famous speech in which he declared tho intention of Canada to withstand suction into the "vqrtex ol European militarism," and that Canadians generally look with wonder and hatred upon this increasingly menacing nightmare there is a limitless mass of evidence. The practical question at this moment—which will remain the vital question for years to come—is the ultimate decision of Canada when her own local and national interests tug against her instinct to remain attached to Britain and to rally to the support of tho Imperial Federation. Thore is no reason to doubt that Canadian feeling will long support tho policy laid down by Sir Fhedemck Borten, the Canadian Minis tor for Defence, in a statement in the Canadian Gazette on October 9, 1902: 1 Wo should bo in a position to defend our--1 selves against sudden attack from any quaiter, and theu in case of prolonged war tn'rely upon I aid fiom tho Mother Country, just as we should of our own froo mil anil accord (rlvo aid to the Umpire according to tho necessities of the conflict. The whole question of Canada's attitude is dealt with by Professor Wrong, of the University of Toronto, in tho October Nineteenth Century. His final conclusion is that the ftituro iclatioris between Canada and JjSritiin maka a problem JJin-

telkietually .insoluble," and •'dq'tornunable only by "the uncontrollable ; logic of facts, the conclusions of which, may not be by; us; foreseen.".; Npt. a': helpful .conclusion, ono mightsu'ppose, but the argur ments leading to it>aro well worth studying. So far as Canada is concerned", the tie with Britain is as highly valued as over, although tho nationalist spirit has increased in strength and keenness. She is a little p,uz?led, it appears, at Britain's .eagerness to cling to her, for; she "feels herself menaced by no new dangers, and, living possibly in a fool's paradise, has no paroxysm of.neryes. It has always been hopeless for her to think of armed strife with her only neighbour, for this npighbour couldput a dozen men into the field to her < one. From Europe, rightly or.wrongly, she fears nothing. , ' At the . same time,, Canada, -has been acutely sensitive to her teal. and.imagip*. ary : grievances againet British policy. Sib Wilfrid .Lauiiiiju has gone near to violence in his' protects against them, and Peofessdr Wkong. quotes a new book by Mb. J.. S. EwAET, K. 0., an'eminent and learned-Toronto lawyer, which is a piece of powerful pleading against Britain. To-day, however; thq old soreness is disappearing. "The impression of tho average man," Bays Pkofessoe. Wrong, "is that the grievances have been removed; and that all is now plain sailing. ; ■'■ In theory Canada has hardly any liberty at all. ■ All q£ her legislation, as .in the case of New' Zealand;: is null and yojd that conflicts. Syith that pf fclie TJn|ted Kingdom. ; This helplessness even extends toi this length, that "if Britain declares war on any State,* Canada is at war too, though her Government may disapprove pf {.lie: declaration.' . In' actual practice, of course, like: Australia and New' Zealand, are as■' free as the air within the limitsi'-rif the law of nations. .What will this freedom lead. tol.PppFESSOR ; Wronq thinks' that it" will ". lead neither "ito."Beparatioh" nor : "closer or-ganic-union"; Canada will steadily become' more ' independent in her .ouilpqk, ,noro determined to retain and. develop control of her own. affairs, more" ainbiti-. ou's.tp: rank amon'g nations' 'pi:; the earth., : ,ln.:the,day.jof war..between:lB rj. tain and a foreign Powor, the' decision of Canada .will- bo:..set'tled ~by.', Jtbe,'; "plain, unimaginatiye" pitizen Ayhp }s not thinking of EuropeanVuffairs but of "the resources to build hie bwhihouse, -to construct tlie school-hpuse, the highways, the railways.that a.new cpuntry:..urgentjy needs.".. } Nothing is -easier ' than to .say that this plain man, when the, Mpthorland. is at .war; willsfprget' everything in a red rago of,.lmperialism—ngthingr excepting, tb'say that he.will keep.his ships ini Halifax,' and '.'go , ;: grimly v. about r his hpusewprk,.' In "other.■ words, what; will actually happen cannot be certainly predicted—the prophecy 'will depend on; the teijiperameflf of the prophets, That ;ip what' PiiOFESspii' .WEoNG,:me2\n.s ,; ,when.;he mitte.pl tha,t ; .she..hplds.it;to,be'her duty;to share j 1 in. lyhatever v/are: Great Brittvi)L\ may : iundqrtakej" '• there; are}';. Canadians whoask: it be: unfair ■were Great Britain, to .say the Bame. thing regarding Canadaf'..' PKOFE§spE:;.W;flPfQ■••jjas an'.asBuranco "that, rings' triiej an(^l ; : tl)at;will form' an adequate reply- to" , th'osewhp may seek to draw- large"gijrieral-'rnorals from the. cabjo .■message ; .we'have,takenvas. the subject;of pur,.discussion'. , :'.',■ ' 'v. ':'';:'. 'V,'.; v='

■' "Canada ..:'■,' ; ■■.-.-, js iiof nursing grievances. She prpfers.toi.think.ofi.Jhe sacrifices Britain made to win and- hold Oiipada ; and: of tho generosity vjth which this splendid 'heritage-: his npiV' boeii handed,over,freely, to, the Canadian people. :.,...■..;..,.51if1.is ceslsing.tp, ; .be-dependent/ put she js mpro;'than.. an nlly ■";,;.:.'.-..:' .t , .*--.,: