DOMINIONS AND WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18249, 16 November 1922, Page 7

DOMINIONS AND WAR.

CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

CONTROVERSY IN CANADA.

POWERS OF PARLIAMENT. [FHOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TORONTO. Oct. 14. " When Britain is at war Canada is at war," was the formula of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. But his saving reservation was that while Canada might be "at war," it remained for the Canadian Parliament to say whether she should take part in the war. Since that theory of Dominion status was accepted, Canada has achieved ." full nationhood'' and " equality of status within the Empire," So she has been told by her own leaders and by leaders elsewhere. But has the new status increased or diminished her freedom of choice and independence in ihe vital matter of going to war? The issuo has been raised suddenly and acutely by the Turkish affair, and no matter what is the outcome of that incident, the controversy raised in .Canada threatens to continue for a long time. On one side are those who think that Canada has permitted her ambitions for world recognition to entangle her in responsibilities she should have kept out of; it would have been much better if she had not been so keen to become a member of the League of Nations, and a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles, and, worse luck—to the Treaty of Sevres. On the other hand, there are those who lament that Canada is still holding back from full acceptance of Empire obligations.

Is Canada Independent? Has Canada already lost all independence of action concerning the issue of peace and war? Is sho obliged blindly to follow wherever Britain leads? Has Bhe a moral responsibility to take part at least in some small way in every adventure British arms and the British Government may decide to embark upon in any part of the world ? It is argued that the present British. Cabinet must hold some such opinions in view of its Bensational call to arms to the Dominions on the Turkish issue, and the circumstances in which that call was issued. Mr. Arthur Meighen, leader of the Conservative Opposition in Canada, is seing attacked because, it is alleged, he nade a speech in which he laid down he doctrine that it was obligatory upon he Canadian Government, having revived the famous invitation from the British Cabinet, to have committed imnedktely the country to war—if war (ocurrod. *• Mr. Meighen's view,'' says he Winnipeg Free Press, " is that when ihe British Government called the Canidian Government, all the necessary pre;edents to committing Canada to war were "ulfilled; thereafter, everything should irpceed automatically; Canada would have tip alternative but to accept" The Free £rm challenges Mr. Meighen to press the issue "in ..Parliament and elsewhere. It contrasts the situation of. the "Free State of-Ireland, whose Constitution expressly states that the Free. •'• State can only be committed to war by the tuition of its own Parliament—and -the new Irish Constitution', is supposed, to be based on and f status Of Gtoada at the present day. • -it "is doubtful if Mr. Meighen really "said ' what "he is for saying. Canada, Mr. Meighen actually said, should have answered Britain's call with a "Heady, aye, Ready," but. he argued, that did not involve going to war at ill. Thus, both jingoes and pacifists ihould have been pleased.

The Essential Preliminary. No, matter what the controversialists say, it seems obviously clear that there has been little change in the procedure that will be necessary to plunge Canada into a future war. Her status in this respect has been neither increased nor diminished. Before Canadian troops can take the field, before they can be called to training camps, Parliament must vote the necessary appropriation, or there must at least be reasonable assurance that Parliament will do so. There has been some talk of a contingent of 50.000 men from Canada in case, of a Turkish war—that is a number which, it is suggested, could easily be obtained by voluntary enlistment. But before even 500 men could be sent to the Dardanelles, the approval of the Canadian: Parliament would nave to be assured. There i§ no one outside Canada who can coerce .that body. If Canadian publio opinion disapproves of the couirse of Parliament, either in its action or inaction, it can 'elect a fresh Parliament at the first opportunity. No other routine is possible. - Empire* or Autonomy. There are two opposing groups of persons who 1 seem to be continually contemplating the approach of a day when i Canada or somo other Dominion may step | out of the British Empire. One group is I the ultra-Imperialist, the other is the ' ultra-Autonomist. The first'group-argues that Canada must submit to,, British decisions in foreign affairs or "break, away." If Britain signs a Treaty of Sevres, Canada either has to sign it also or—step out. If Britain goes to war to support a Treaty I of Sevres, or for any other reason. Canada has to take part or—step out. Life is at one continuous parting of the. ways. Canada's only hope to attain a position of self-respect, according to this school, is to get into the game on the inside and try to influence decisions before they [are made The ultra-Autonomist . reachesj this " parting of the ways" conclusion but by a different route. He says that Canada by signing so many foreign documents has so compromised herself that she will be under a moral obligation hereafter to support Britain in. .all sorts of adventures, which may be in: themselves iustifiablo or not. And that she can only completely disentangle herself by separation. The latter group seems to forget that the Canadian Parliament still must vote supplies before Canada can go to war. A Precedent Recalled. ' And the argument of the formar will : bear inspection before it is accepted. In ■ 1885 Britain had a war in Egypt. Canada » was invited to send a contingent, and the Government under Sir John A. MacI donald declined to do so. But Canada did not break away from the 6 - ; 1 If the Turkish trouble develops Canada ' will have to decide through her own jgg • liament whether she is going to flgM ' I fc Jfi-Aft. «•• sho *» '«* * iD 'or ? #/ decide for herself the issues of paSt tfS and must continue » to intelligent, decision and. may maKO » J!SS illogical decision-but vuat w M By"/So» in recent cn^. King Government puf«^« |.i s 4i.«+ Canada cannot be conuniwww % Aii i «T in a "somewhat fumbling »nd £&£££/• but, the Manitoba ,l£ Press says, '* it ia » precedent of «H first magnitude* - ,