Canada Splitting Into Two Separate Countries

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1944, Page 7

Canada Splitting Into Two Separate Countries

(Rec. 11 a.m.) OTTAWA, Nov. 30. British Columbia camps were normal today. All ground-floor windows in the Montreal French-language daily “Le Canada” were smashed last night by over 1000 young men Avho also broke windows in the selective service offices. The demonstrators came from a meeting where they heard Andre Laurendeau, Quebec leader of the Bloc Populaire, say the majority did not have a moral right to bind French Canadians to conscription.

Although Mr. Mackenzie King is expected to get a vote of confidence on the conscription issue because of the overwhelming majority his party enjoys, it is doubtful whether lie can heal the wounds in his party and throughout the country. The French-Canadian province of Quebec, for reasons rooted in history, language and religion, is fanatically isolatipnist. French-Canadians are deeply suspicious of English-speaking Canadians. They resent, even hale. England itself and Quebec Liberals say they will never forget Mr. Mackenzie King for going back on his promises not to conscript for service overseas. Mr. King’s English-speaking Liberals will never forgive their leader for kow-towing to , Quebec’s Isolationists for the past five years. A tragic aspect of the whole affair is that the chasm which has divided the two language groups is now widening, and the nation is splitting into lavo separate countries. Reserves Almost Exhausted

Mr Ralston told the House of Commons that he had resigned because Cabinet failed to accept his recommendation for overseas conscription. He said that reserves in the Canadian infantry reinforcement pools overseas at present Avere almost, if not entirely, exhausted and by the end of January the army Avould be Avithout reinforcements and units would be slightly under strength. He had nor thought that the voluntary system had failed, but it had not provided, under present conditions, "the regular flow of men" required. He would support the Government on a confidence motion, but proposed to keep his eye on the ball which meant getting infantry reinforcements overseas Avithout delay. Voting against the Government would mean further delay. Situation Easier

A report from Terrace, British Columbia, said that two regiments of Home Defence troops Avhich were picketed and another regiment scheduled to leave on the night of November 28 for another part of British Columbia, returned to duty on Wednesday afternoon and a troop train carrying a third regiment has departed. A general easement in the situation is expected. There Avere a few parades through the Terrace business section on Wednesday but no disorder. Officials said that British Columbia camps were now functioning normally. Meamvhile, Brigadier Edmund Blais, officer commanding Quebec district, announced that all French-Can-adian troops stationed in other areas of Canada Avill be returned to Quebec and trained under their own officers.

The Ottawa correspondent of the “NeAV York Times” points out that one of the complaints of French speaking Canadians is that they are too often under English speaking officers and non-commissioned officers and will feel much more confident if kept in their OA\m units under officers speaking French.