59

F.—B

How can we decide among so many conflicting interests, and work towards harmonizing them, if we do not begin by acquiring an intelligent knowledge of them all? I remember from my schoolboy days the maxim adopted by Socrates as the keystone of his pholosophy, " Gnothi seauton " (know thyself); aud such ought to be our aim. 11. From His Honour A. G. Jones, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia :— I think there can be no doubt but that you are quite right in deprecating too much haste in considering such an important question as this suggestion involves. I should certainly recommend proceeding cautiously, and if the work grows, as I think it will, one will be in a better position to consider all the details. I shall watch the movement with great interest and attention. 111. From His Honour William Mortimer Clarke, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario : — Any attempt to establish such an Imperial Council as has been proposed at present seems premature, although the discussion of this and kindred topics cannot fail to be useful in directing public attention to the need for the greater unification of the Empire. The dissemination of more information regarding each other among the colonies than at present prevails is a condition precedent to any successful effort being made for a closer imperial union. I may venture to say that the people of the Mother-land require to be educated regarding this subject quite as much as do the colonies; the ignorant indifference of apparently intelligent persons in Britain regarding the vast interests involved in the unification of our Empire is lamentable. The plan you advocate for'the telegraphic transmission of intelligence among our various dependencies must commend itself as one which will do much to prepare the minds of the people for at some future time adopting some plan for carrying out a closer union between the numerous nationalities wdiich form our great Empire. IV. From M. H. A. A. Brault, President de La Chambre de Commerce dv District de Montreal: — I approve entirely any idea tending to establish friendly and commercial relations between Great Britain and the colonies. The project of Sir Frederick Pollock and Mr. Drage for the creation of a Bureau of Information, as also supported by yourself and many other citizens, will finally prevail. I believe we must take up this question in the light of an open and straight discussion, in order to separate the good from the evil. If this is done without a thought of military imperialism, direct or indirect, the problem will receive the consideration of the public, as its solution will bring the development of friendship and material progress throughout the whole Empire. V. From Dean Bovey, LL.D., Ac, McGill University : — I have followed with the deepest interest the various discussions which have been held in connection with the visits of Sir Frederick Pollock, Mr. Geoffrey Drage, and Mr. Jebb. It has been an additional pleasure to me to read your admirable communications to the Canadian Club, with which in the main I am fully in accord. I am satisfied, however, that the first step to be taken should be in the direction of devising a thoroughly well-considered preferential scheme, which I believe would go a long way to solving the whole difficulty. I do not at all approve of an Advisory Council, as such a body would have no responsibility, but it seems to me that Mr. Jebb's suggestion of consultation between the different Premiers of the Empire on all matters of Imperial policy might meet the present conditions and prepare the way for" a permanent Council, which would have infinitely greater value than any Advisory Council. Surely this can be possible when your great cable scheme is an accomplished fact. One evil with which we have to contend in this country is the mutilated form in which cable messages are being continually transmitted to this continent from abroad. Some means should therefore be devised, under Imperial authority, which would insure a reliable distribution of information to the countries which form the component parts of the Empire. Might it not also be a move in the right direction if an Imperial newspaper could be established and published, either in England, with special privileges of transmission, or simultaneously in the different countries of the Empire? Such a paper would deal with the special interests of all parts of the Empire, so as to bring them more closely in touch with each other. VI. From Lieut.-Colonel George T. Denison, President, British Empire League in Canada, Toronto : — I have read your letters to the Canadian Club with much interest, and am in hearty accord with you. It is "of the utmost importance that the different colonies should keep in touch with each other, and nothing could do that better than daily cable despatches, from all around the world, in all the papers of the Empire. VII. From Sir W. P. Howland, P.C, Toronto :— The subject embraced in your letter is one of vast importance not only to the United Kingdom, but to the whole world. I doubt whether it is wise to drop the idea of a National Council, although