THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 113, 16 May 1939, Page 11

THE PACIFIC

CANADA'S ALOOFNESS

BIGGER POLICY ADVOCATED

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

VANCOUVER, April 12,

The protracted debate on' defence and foreign affairs in the Dominion Parliament has provided an interesting cross-section of opinion in Canada, its responsibilities as a .member of the British Empire, and its attitude in the next war. The leader of the French-Canadian bloc of 65. members, Mr. Lapointe, who is Minister of Justice, differed sharply with the rank and file of the party when he declared that, when Britain was at. war. he was convinced that Canada automatically was at war. Several of the Quebec members spoke in French. The English-speaking members of the House were not aware of their views until Hansard presented a translation.

One of the new Conservative members from British Columbia, Mr. Howard Green, a young and able speaker and an unrepentant Imperialist, condemned the Government's defence policy as ■ "wishy-washy." He urged that Canada should take a larger share of the burden of naval defence and enter into an alliance with Australia, New Zealand, and. the Motherland to draw up a cohesive defence plan for the Pacific. Turning to the Pacific conference at Wellington, Mr. Green said that Canada should be represented there. He went so far as to say that the United States should have delegates at the conference, as the United States Pacific naval and air defence policy was obviously drawn up after consultation with the British Government. FULL CO-OPERATION URGED. "The Dominion Government always overlooks the effect that a firm stand on foreign affairs would have on our friends, our * potential enemies, and our own people," said Mr. Green. "Its present policy is neither safe nor sane. I suggest that the time has come for Canada to adopt, as a basic Pacific policy, full and open co-operation with the other British peoples living on I the shores of that ocean, and with the American people. Canada enjoys a measure of protection from the Australian Navy and the Singapore naval base. The Dominion Government is content to 'rely on this, without, contributing : its share to . tbe cost—rely, also, on a vague Monroe Doctrine for .help from the United States, instead of entering into a definite commitment so that each country would know its share of Pacific defence, .and contribute accordingly."

The Dominion, he continued, had close contacts with Japan, which was now allied with the authoritarian States. The presence of 25,000 Japanese in British Columbia would one day constitute a Sudeten problem. It was enhanced by continued immigration from Japan and the growing spread of Japanese into new phases of British Columbian economic life. The Government should . ask Japan to halt this migration, or, as an alternative, close the doors to Japanese.

The delay in the construction of two new liners to replace the Aorangi and Niagara Mr. Green attributed to Canada's lack of interest. The Dominion should contribute adequate .'subsidies for this passenger and freight service, more especially since the balance of trade between Canada and Australia and New Zealand was always largely in Canada's favour. That balance could be evened up, in one instance, by "Canada purchasing munitions from Australia. .