Evening Post. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1912.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1912, Page 6

Evening Post. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1912.

A SPLENDID EXAMPLE ♦ Mi\ Borden has fulfilled the Empire's expectations. Two things had been made perfectly plain during the visit of himself and several of his colleagues to the Old Country in July and August. They had made up their minds that Canada's entire dependence upon the British taxpayer for practically the whole burden of naval defence was incompatible with her dignity as a nation, But they also made it clear that it would be incompatible with Canada's national dignity to find money for Imperial defence without getting some share in the control of Imperial policy. "The time is at hand," said Mr. Borden in one of his speeches in London, "when they (the Dominions) will be called upon to take their reasonable and legitimate share in iraihtainitig the security of the Empire's existence. I need not say that in time of peril I believe that every Dominion— I am sure that Canada— would give a response not less loyal or less earnest than that of the Motherland her.self. One realises, however, that when the day of perilfshall have arrived the day for effective preparation may have passed." That is one aspect of the case, but Mr. Borden proceeded in his next sentence to put the other and, especially from the Canadian standpoint, equally important aspect. "I conceive," ho said, "that those who accept a share in and a responsibility for the defence and security of this vast Empire are no longer to be considered as wards by selfconstituted guardians." And in another of his London speeches the Canadian Premier, with a happy reference to the unhappy phrase applied to the Dominion by President Taft in his correspondence with Mr. Rooseyelt, explained that "Canada does not propose to be an 'adjunct, 1 even of the British Empire, but, as has been well and eloquently expressed, to be a great part in a greater whole." Canadian sentiment, which, by teaeon of the much greater size and resources of the country and its comparative maturity, is decidedly more self,assertive than that of New Zealand, would certainly not have tolerated the contribution of money without any «bare in the partnership. The Imperial patriotism of Canada and her individual hational pride are both satisfied by the wise and courageous course which the Government is taking. The contrast between the action of the I Borden Government and that of its predecessor is indeed remarkable. Sir Wilfrid Laurier's programme pix>vided for the creation of a small local navy of inferior ships, which were not to take part in the battles of the Empire unless the Canadian Parliament so desired. He was, of course, unable to alter the rule of international law by which Canada would be at war if Britain was at war, and would therefore be liable to have her ships sunk by Britain's enemy even if her Parliament issued the most peremptory edict to the contrary, but this j by the way. Mr. Borden, on the other hand, asks Canada to find " three battleships of the best possible Class"— which will surely cost at least a million more than the £2,350,000 mentioned in the cablegram— and to add them without local restrictions to the Imperial Navy. Seeing that Britain at present has only eighteen Dreadnoughts and the other European nations nineteen between them, the immense value of this contribution in its direct effect upon the balance of naval power is obvious. What is of special importance for Australasia is that, though these Canadian Dreadnoughts will presumably be stationed in tho North Sea, this addition to the resources of the Admiralty will enable it to establish a fleet of battleships and cruisers in thft Pacific, while Canada's Atlantic coast will also have regular visits from a powerful squadron. Thus Canada's magnificent offer will affect tlio balance of power in both oceans, and will in particular bring Mr. Churchill ideal of a Dominion fleet patrolling the outskirts of the Empire ami leaving Britain free for the ever growing responsibility of guarding its heait within measurable distance. The Admiralty memorandum uicatioaa that a aid. fs>g £anada ss^ld /

be likely to produce a great effect on the other Powers." The immediate effect of Canada's policy is indeed certain to be considerable, but its effect upon the calculations of ten or twenty years hence must be enormous. Tho German taxpayer is already groaning under his heavy load, in supporting which he has had the satisfaction of remembering that John Bull is suffering in the same way, and may have to give in first. But if a young nation like Canada, with lev immense resources, of which but a small fraction has as yet been tapped, is to step into the ring, and the other daughter States # are to do their duty in the same way, British statesmanship will, in Canning's famous phrase, have " called a new world into existence to redress the balance of the old," and the present narrow margin of safety will have been enlarged into an easy and unchallenged superiority. Mr. Borden is, however, doing a good deal more than providing three battleships. He is instituting a revolutionary change in Imperial organisation, which it might have taken the Imperial Conference many years to set in motion. He lids claimed, and successfully claimed, that Canada's contribution to Imperial defence shall give bet a chare 1 in the con# trol of Imperial policy. Canada's Minister of Marino is to become a permanent member of tho Imperial Defence Committee, and to act in consultation on all questions of foreign policy. This is as it shoulct be, and the immense significance of the step must be laTgely responsible for the happy change which baa come over the spirit of Canadian Oppositionists. A few weeks ago they were said to be likely to stonewall the proposals ; now their attitude is that of acquiescence, if not approval. Both by reason oi the difficulties which he has had to overcome .and of the organic change which he has initialed for the benefit 'of the whole Empire, Mr. Borden's stroke of policy stands on a much higher plane than that of Sir Joseph WaTd in 1909. New Zealand's Dreadnought represented sentiment ; but Canada's Dreadnoughts combine sentiment and statesmanship in the happiest possible way. Though New Zealand's impulsive affection brought her first into the field, her education is so backward that nearly four years after her gift to the Admiralty, and more than six months after Mr. Churchill's offer of a seat on tho Imperial Defence Committee, she fitill hesitates to accept it. New' Zealand sends her cadets to the Australian Military College, but ehe declines to send a Minister to the finest school of Imperial statesmanship in the Empire. Well as New Zealand did in 1909, Canada has done very much better in 1912. Mr. Bordon's bold and far-seeing statesmanship should act as an inspiration to the whole Empire. ,