THE MAPLE LEAF

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1937, Page 7

THE MAPLE LEAF

CANADA AND EMPIRE

FACTORS FOR THE FUTURE

VANCOUVER., September 20,

Mr Mackenzie King, hack from the Empire Conference, is the centre of a sharp controversy over Canada’s duty to the Empire. In an address, broadcast to the whole Dominion, h e said he had not, committed Canada to any expense nor to any obligation other than what had 'oeen authorised in Parliament, prior to his departure for London. The general Canadian attitude to•wards the Empire is better understood after a study of the effects of United States propinquity. The two countries shaip 3UOO miles of undefended frontier. President Roosevelt has publicly warned the nations that any attack on Canada would be resisted with all the might of Uncle Sam’s army, air force and other services. Commercial relations are close, and tend to become still closer. Canada is United States’ sec-ond-best customer. American business capital invested in Canada is 50 per cent more than British capital invested in the Dominion. The United States imports moß' from Canada than from any other country, accounting for 47 per cent of the Dominion’s export and import trade, while the United Kingdom is responsible for not more than 31 per cent of the total.

These relations, enhanced by constant interchange of tourists and trade representatives, have built up a close bond between the two countries. Tastes in commodities are similar. Canadian and American trade unions are affiliated. With every change l in Imperial preference, American branch factories are* established in Canada, sometimes without the loss of a single day. Social, educational, industrial, commercial and professional bodies hold regular conventions, which are attended by delegations from either country. United States tourists, in a normal year, such ns this, sound £50.000,000 in Canada. Tourists may carry across the border, either way, £2O worth of goods, free of duty. Rot against these factors Canada’s cni'-it of independence, the Empire tradition and Quebec’s determination to resist any inroad on Frenrh-CanacDnrt racial and cultural identity, and the observer will acquire a perspective, through which he may adeuuatelv nssnss Canada’s sense of obligation to the British Commonwealth of Nations, ns defined in lb o Act of Westminster, "•hich legislation was initiated h'v Mr Mackenzie King and bis chief lieutenant, the Freneh-Canadian leader, Mr Lapointe. Tn the light of these facts, 'the ambiguity of Mr Mackenzie King’s foreign policy is easily understood. He is advocating a nationalist and Imperialist route, without committing himself to either. He wishes to avoid involving Canada in another war, but it would | savour too much aAmericnnism to advocate neutrality. Prairie Liberals fo-ced a 30 per cent reduction in his defence estimates. They are now urging ii 10-vear plan, involving £1.00.900.(100. for water conservation, irrigation anu f'fffforestation to save the P'-airio from hoeonvng a desert. Alongside such a coUssnl under! nking Empire defence trill be destined, perforce, to mark time.