FOUR OLD GUNBOATS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20145, 17 March 1937, Page 10

FOUR OLD GUNBOATS.

CANADA’S NAVY. DOMINION'S SENS! OF SECURITY. FE\V MILITARY 'PLANES. Canadians sleep at nights with a sense of national security vouchsafed to few countries in the world to—day. writes Lloyd lioherts from Ottawa to the ilhrisiinn Science Monitor. And yet. perhaps no other nation is so lacking in either offensive or defensive armnnmnis. Those we possess are conshlcrmi more in the nature of dummy models for physical training courses; om] ceremonial occasions. ’i‘herc arr guns to boom a welcome to visitinz lini'atty. cavalry escorts for the GovernorJir‘ncrni. crack regiments with their hands for parades, and even a Floyni Navy—of {our second—hand mmbonts patrolling its Atlantic and Pacific scnhoards. The Royal Canadian )lonnicd Police equals in numher (loss than 3000) the whole “standing.r army” of Canada's active militia. Practically all aeroplanes are privately owned and commercially flown. People’s Common Sense. The Dominion‘s sense of security obviously rests upon other factors. Foremost among these perhaps is the plain common sense of the people as a whole. They are about as immune from “mob psychology" and hysteria (race. religious and political) as any people on earth. Neither Fascism nor Boishevism has weakened their faith in democracy. The hardships resulting from economic depression and social injustice have only made them more determined to eradicate them through parliamentary procedure. Leaders of all influential parties support them in this attitude. Norman Rogers. Minister of Labour, declared recently in Vancouver that the build—ing of national prosperity was of more vital concern to Canada than the building of armaments, and the “ramparts of social security must he strengthened.” ‘ Common sense towards the outer world is also in eVidence. The idea of becoming involved in a European conflict is nearly as distasteful to Canadians as to Americans. Their political and racial affiliations with Great Britain and the rest of the Em—pire prevent them from saying that they won‘t get into such a war “at any price." hut there are many indi—viduais, especially among the French— Canadians, who say just that. Canada has become gun—shy ot‘ the League of Nations since it failed to give “collective security." Until the time comes when \Voorirow \Viison‘s great “dream is a reality Canada will continue to place its dependence on the unofficial league ‘of the English-speaking peoples. Attltude of America. Rightly or wrongly, It. to unthinkable to Canadians that. the United States could ever watch British democracies defeated and the Empire broken up and remain neutral. More unthinkable to them Is the possibility that. the United States could ever tolerate foreign Invasion of the northern ‘ half of the continent. Americans enlisted by thousands in the Canadlan Expeditionary Force; oonadlane feel they would enlist by millions ln Canada‘s defence. I Nor do Canadians fear that their‘ big neighbour might turn predatory and seek their annexation. There might have been such a fear in pre—confederation and Fenian—red times,| but “peaceful penetration" from both sides has since secured the present happy relationship. Consequently, while all the world wonders, and much of it trembies. Canada. remains calm. Former treaties were founded on fear or for material gain; recent alliances are . being formed on political ideas and ideals. The latter seem fraught with]

far less peril for Canada. confident that democratic principles are right Trade rivalries in the past have caused friction among the members of the English-speaking family, But once their dearly-bought freedom is in danger, their minor differences will be (ox-gotten. 'Tlius Canada reasons. Inc-capable Obligations. But Canada‘s apparent immunity involves obligations it. cannot ignore or escape. An enemy blundering into

any part of the fartlung Empire web would inevitably rally all Common‘ wealth members to its defence. There is no longer security in mere isolation. "Minding one's own business“ did not save Ethiopia from destruciion. Canada, apart from the urging of loyalty and sentiment. has a responsi—bility and an interest in the protection or British power and prestige. No amount or anti-war talk can talk this away. Prime )lirlster Mackenzie King recognises this tact. After warn—-

ing the League Assembly that his country would never be committed to War without the consent or its people. he stowed over in London to diaouu international aflalrs and Empire reactions to them. Parliament, at its forthcoming session, will probably insist on debating “defence“ in all it. subtle ramifications. For the pro-ant. however, Canadians will believe with isainh that not in armaments but “in quietnesa and confidence shall be your strength." . .. . J