CANADA’S POSITION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 195, 13 May 1924, Page 7

CANADA’S POSITION

BRITISH CONTACT LESSENING AND AMERICAN INFLUENCE GROWING PREFERENTIAL BENEFITS SECURED The Agent-Ceneral in London for British Columbia declares that Sir James Alien’s description of the position of Canada is quite true. He states that American influence Is growing daily, and by the establishment of branch factories In Canada Americans are obtaining the benefit of all preferential arrangements. By Telegraph— Press Association. —COPYRIGHT, London, May 11. “Sir James Allen’s description of the position of Canada is quite true,” said Mr. F. C. Wade, Agent-General for British Columbia, in an interview. “Past generations of Canadians were the descendants of the Empire loyalists who left th© United States after the American Revolution. To-day a generation is growing up who know not Joseph, and who are without the mainspring of loyalty of those of half a century ago. British contact with Canada is becoming less, and American influence is growing daily. American emigration into Canada during the past twenty years has been greater than the British since the war. The Americans have established twelve hundred Canadian branch factories, and are obtaining tho benefit of all preferential arrangements. If this peaceful penetration continues without a great awakening from Britain, Canada will soon have nothing left but a flag and a sentiment.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [A message from London published on Saturday said that intense interest had been aroused by Sir James Alien’s remark that the position of Canada was delicate and that the time bod come for plain speaking by all who had the best interests of the Empire at heart. Sir James Allen said: “It seems to mo that there are very serious problems ahead for the Empire, especially regarding Canada, where the Western farmers are in a state of unrest. Now that the Imperial Conference’s proposals are likely to be turn ed down, Mr. Mackenzie King’s position is much more difficult, but I do not think there is any possibility of Canada seceding from the Empire at all. At tho same time, we must recognise her position as a neighbour of a great English-speaking people, and th© attractions tliat that neighbour offers. That is why I think the position is delicate, and Britain should realise her relationship to the Dominions, recognising that her action in refusing to accept tho Imperial Conference’s proposals may give a serious blow to Empire unity.”] LAMENTABLE LACK OF IMAGINATION MR. BALDWIN’S CRITICISM London, May 11. Mr. S. Baldwin, in a speech’ to the Women’s Unionist Organisation in the Queen’s Hall, declared that 'the conduct of the Government in regard to the McKenna duties and Imperial preference showed a lamentable lack of imagination and understanding. They failed, he said, to realise that the prosperity of the Empire stood as a whole; that one could not hit one part without damaging another. If Britain did not co-operate with the Dominions in trade, they must inevitably, ns time went on, co-operate with others: and it might well be that the same faults, with the same results, as occurred, under th© Parliament of George 111 in regard to the North American colonies might occur in the twentieth century under a democratic regime, with no less evil effects to the life of the country.— Reuter.