MILICIENS

4. — La milice se composera de tous les habitants mâles du Canada, âgés de dixhuit ans et plus, et de moins de soixante ans, non exemptés ou déclarés inhabiles aux termes de la loi, et sujets anglais de naissance ou par naturalisation; mais dans le cas d'une levée en masse, Sa Majesté pourra appeler au service toute la population mâle du Canada en état de porter les armes.

5. — La population mâle ainsi sujette à servir dans la milice sera partagée en quatre classes : —

La première classe comprendra les hommes âgés de dix-huit ans et plus, mais de moins de trente ans, célibataires ou veufs sans enfants;

La deuxième classe comprendra ceux âgés de trente ans et plus, mais de moins de quarante-cinq ans, célibataires ou veufs sans enfants;

La troisième classe comprendra ceux âges de dix-huit ans et plus, mais de moins de quarante-cinq ans, mariés ou veufs avec des enfants;

La quatrième classe comprendra ceux âgés de quarante-cinq ans et plus, mais de moins de soixante ans;

Et tel sera l'ordre dans lequel la population mâle sera appelée au service.

DIVISION DE LA MILICE

6. — La milice sera divisée en milice active et milice de réserve — forces de terre, — et en milice active et milice de réserve — forces navales : La milice active — forces de terre — se composera : —

(a) Des corps levés au moyen de l'enrôlement volontaire;

(b) Des corps levés au moyen du tirage au sort;

La milice active — forces navales — qui sera levée de la même manière, se composera des marins, matelots et individus ordinairement employés sur toute embarcation à vapeur ou à voile naviguant dans les eaux du Canada;

La milice de réserve — tant de guerre que de mer — se composera de tous les hommes qui ne serviront pas alors dans la milice active.

APPEL DE LA MILICE

60. — L'officier commandant tout district ou division militaire, ou l'officier commandant tout corps de milice active, pourra dans toute éventualité imprévue d'Invasion ou

d'insurrection, ou d'appréhension imminente de l'un ou l'autre de ces dangers, appeler, en tout ou en partie, la milice placée sous son commandement, jusqu'à signification du bon plaisir de Sa Majesté; et la milice ainsi appelée par son officier commandant devra, immédiatement, se conformer aux ordres qu'elle pourra en recevoir, et se diriger sur toute localité, dans ou hors les limites de son district ou de sa division, qu'il pourra désigner.

Cl. — a Majesté pourra appeler, en tout ou en partie, la milice au service actif, dans ou hors le Canada, lorsque la chose sera en aucun temps jugée à propos, en conséquence de guerre, invasion ou insurrection, ou d'appréhension d'aucun de ces dangers; et les miliciens ainsi appelés au service actif continueront de servir pendant au moins une année à compter de la date à laquelle ils auront été appelés au service actif, si on l'exige, ou pour toute période plus longue que Sa Majesté pourra fixer:

2. — Sa Majesté pourra, au besoin, ordonner à toute division régimentaire d'avoir à fournir le nombre d'hommes requis, soit comme renforts, soit pour remplir les vides dans les corps en activité de service;

3. — Lorsque la milice sera, en tout ou en partie, appelée au service actif, en conséquence de guerre, invasion ou insurrection, Sa Majesté pourra la placer sous les ordres du commandant de ses troupes régulières en Canada.

Débats sur la Loi de 1883, 0)

Le 10 avril 1883:—

Mr. CARON : — In Sir George Cartier's time, as now, f ortuna-

tely, we did not require a force for any aggressive purpose, or any other purpose, save securing the safety of the person, protecting property, and defending ourselre» asrainst any attack -winch might, as previously, give us occasion to resist and repel any disorganized, or small organized band crossing the frontier, as was attempted ;n 1865, but without success. But outside of this, as Sir George Cartier stated, it was indispensable for every nation to hâve some kind of organization, which might at any time be used to help the Government in enforcing the laws, and resisting disorder at home (527-8)

Mr. VAIL : — I am quite sure if the force was called upon to

turn out in the defence of the country, it would give as good an account of itself as the force of any other country. I believe, not only the Militia would turn out in the defence of Canada, but every man, not only in this House, but in the country, if such was necessary for the gênerai defence (530)

Mr. O'BRIEN : — I think that at Confédération there was a sort

of understanding — that I am unnblc to find évidence of it, but I believe it is admitted that it did exist — that this country on receiving the remainder of the ordnance Iands — this being part of the question — were to expend for a certain number of years, not less than $1,000,000 annually in organizing and maintaining an active force ; (531 )

Mr. IVES : — Now, there are certain objects which we may have

in view in this expenditure, and which the Government may have in view in bringing down the animal Estimâtes for the Militia forces. In the first place, their object may be to have in Canada a force sufficient to restrain domestic riots or insurrections, and to enforce the laws of the country. That may be their only object. Or their object may be to build up, to train and control a force which would be sufficient successfully to protect our territory from the forcign invader; or possibly their object may be twofold — to put down domestic insurrection, and, in case of need.

(1) Extraits des Debates. House of Commom, et des Debatea of the Senate, 1883. \jp chiffre de la page est indiqué après chaque citation.

to repel foreign invasion. The time, I think, has corne when the hon. Minister of War should be able to state to the House whether his object is simply to hâve a force available for defending the laws of Canada and protecting us from domestic insurrection and riot, or whether his object is further than that, to build up, train, and control, a force hère which shall be sufficient — or ail we can do in that direction — to repel the foreign invader (534)

Mr. WILLIAMS : — ,. . During a discussion in the House a few days

ago some papers were moved for by sonie hon. gentleman, asking for returas of correspondence In référence to the withdrawal of British troops from Halifax. I was glad to hear that no such correspondence had takcn place. I trust that the hon. Minister of Militia, as well as the right hon. gentleman at the head of the Government, will resist any effort of that kind. It seems to me that a station at Halifax and a station at Victoria, in British Columbia, should be Impérial stations, and that we Canadians should enroll ourselves and do ail that we possibly can towards defending

the long line between the two océans The hon. meraber for Richmond

and Wolfe (Mr. Ives), in the course of his remarks, asked whether the intention of the Minister of Militia was to enroll a force for the internai protection of the country, or for defence against invasion. Well, Sir, it seems to me that under this Act which the hon. Minister has introduced, there would be no difficulty whatever in placing the Reserve Militia in such a position that it could be enrolled for défensive purposcs and would always be ready (539)

Mr. CARON : — We ought to bave some organization — not for

aggressive purposes, far from that — but an organization which can be utilized by whatever Government présides over the destinies of the country, that can be utilized for enforcing law, for protecting property, and for repelling any attack which might

be made against as (540) I heard a great deal said to-night about the enor-

mous expenditure connected with this Bill. It may be that hon. members hâve not examincd into the amount of money which Canada pays for her military organization, which is as perfect as any that exists in any country in the world, for the purposes for which it is required. It is not a standing army which we do not need; and the lion, gentlemen who speak of organizing a standing army, are completely mistaken as to the intentions of this Bill. Fortunatcly on this continent, we do not require standing armies, but an organization — call it a military organization, call it by whatever name you wish — merely for the purpose of strengthening the civil Government, of carrying out the laws, of preventing disturbances at home, and of repelling any attack that may be made on us by designing marauders, such as we hâve already

repulsed (541) It is simple prudence for us so to organize our force that it

will be not only a crédit to the country, but that it may be utilized by any Government which may happen to be in power for the purpose of protecting ourselves against

any home disturbances, or resisting any attack that might be made from outside

Le 19 avril, en comité général de la Chambre: —

Mr. OUIMET : — I look upon the Militia of a country, not precisely

as a necessity, because I do not think our Mlitia are likely to be called upon to défend our country against an invading force for many years to corne; but I look upon the Militia as a national institution the promotion of which is the best means of creating among our population a national feeling, a real Canadian feeling (725)

Mr. CARON : — I wish to draw the attention of the Committee to clause 17, subsection 3 — "Whenever the exigencies of the service required, Her Majesty may ralse and maintain a torpédo corps." I wish to substituts the words, "a corps of submarinc miners", instead of "torpédo corps", as the former désignation is the one used in Engiand.

Mr. ROSS (Middlesex) : — What would the hon. Minister of Militia consider such an exigency as would justify the organization of torpédo corps?

Mr. CARON : — The lion, gentleman knows so well, when and why torpédo corps ire required, tliat I could hardly give him any cxplanation that would enlighten him.

Mr. ROSS : — Nothing short of a threatened invasion I suppose.

Mr. CARON : — Of course. The hon. gentleman will understand the peculiar geographical circunistunccs of the country, our large extent of seaboard, and numerous harbors which we hâve lo protect, and the most inexpensive mode of protecting the sea-board is by torpédo corps organized for that purpose. — (729)

Le 26 avril:—

Mr. MACKENZIE : — 1 nm quit> uware that it is the duty of every member of Parliament to support the Government in every effort to improve the defence of the country. I should Jm sorry, indeed, to criticise adversely the propositions of the Government respecting the force, unless I was thoroughly satisfied that the propositions werc wrong. Now, it has been admitted for years that ail we require in a Militia force is the nucleous of what would be required in the event of disturbances occurring on our bordera, such as hâve occurred, or in the event of the Mother Country being unfortunatoly plunged into war in which we would hâve to take some part. (832)

SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD :— I hâve always found the hon.

gentleman true to the principle that every country worthy of the name should hâve a force adéquate to protect itself, to protect order, and to assume its position aa a country

You must reniember, Mr. Speaker, that we are scareely doing our duty to England by the amount wc hâve hitherto expended. My hon. friend from East York (1) remembers that, in lvS05, a certain arrangement was made. I was one of a party that went home on bchalf of the Government, and his former leader and great personal friend, and my colleague, Mr. Brown, went with us; and it was then understood that the then four Provinces should expend not leas than $1.000,000 a year in keeping up the Militia force, an auxiliary force, in the then four Provinces. Well, Sir, we hâve not spent that sum yearly. Some years it has been $800,000, some years less, and some years a little more; but we never hâve really worked up to the fair engagement we made with Her Majcsty's Government in England when they handed over ail their fortifications and ail their ordnance lands to Canada. — (833)

Le 5 mai 1883, au Sénat:—

HON. Mr. SCOTT :— Our best defence in this country is our récognition of the rights of other nations. There is but one power that can in any way diaturb the harmony of things on this continent. We are, I am happy to say, year by year improving our friendly relations with that power. We are beginning to feel that we hâve the same mission in the world's affairs; we feel that we should both go hand in hand in promoting the civilization of the world and cultivating the arts of peace rather than permitting our people to pursue those of war. AH things point in that direction. It is our interest, our policy and our inclination to cultivate the best relations with the only power that could bc in the smallest degree aggressive. There is no power on the Eaat to trouble us, nor is there any on the West, except it is the naval power of some country with which England might be temporarily at war, and the résistance that should be offered to such attacks should be by British ships — the only résistance that could succcssfully défend us from such attacks. We are still, happily, a part of the country that maintains her supremacy upon the océan. Britain rules the waves to-day just as effectually as she did fifty years ago, and therefore it is by British ships that a forcign aggression will be rcsisted, not by Canadian arms or Canadian guns.

HON. SIR ALEX. CAMPBELL.— Stfil we muât do our share.

HON. Mr. SCOTT: — Our share would be to fumish very différent material than that which goes to make thèse militia corps. England has been in straightened circums-

(1) Mr. Mackcnzie.

tances within the last few years. We havc offered her assistance timc and again (1), but onJy on one occasion was that assistance accepted. It was accepted in the form of Canada gold when we forwarded it to assist in the care of the wounded in the Crimean war; but so far as our toy army is concerned I think it is perfectly fallacious

to expect assistance from it in the event of invasion by a foreign power

It is ail very well to dream of battles gained and laurels won but none of us seriously contemplate that there will ever be any aggressive war in which Canada will be in the slightest degree involved, and therefore I say it is perfectly futile to continue, year by year, wasting so considérable a sum of public money in this direction (396)

HON. Mr ALLAN : — I désire, as a Canadian, most earnestly to protest against the spirit in which my hon. friend (Mr. Scott) has approached the subject before the House, and also as to the ternis in which he has spoken of our militia. I do not think the term "toy army", is applicable to our militia at ail. I think that our active force hâve proved themselves in the past thoroughly capable of discharging their duties, for they hâve shown when this province was invaded from without that they could give a very good account of themselves. 1 would quite agrée with my hon. friend from Ottawa if we stood entirely alonc, if we had no connection with the Empire, then the idea of getting up two or three batteries of artillery, a battalion of infantry and a troop of cavalry for the defence of the country would be simply Iudicrous. Such a force would be hardly adéquate for the préservation of domestic peace, and would certainly be useless for the purpose of resisting foreign aggression. It is not under such circumstances that the Government come to us now and ask us to sanction the measure before the House. So long as we are part of the British Empire I do not suppose that any hon. gentleman doubts that in the event of any foreign invasion we should hâve the whole force of the empire at our back. Surely we are not such an utterly spiritless an pusillanimous people as to désire to hâve oursclves defended by the forces of the Empire and to take no part in our own defence? Canadians are actuated by a very différent spirit. We are ready to do our part, and I think what this Bill ask us to do is a very small part, and the least that a country growing in wealth and resources could be asked to do towards its own defence.

I simply rise to protest against the assertion going uncontradicted that the militia

is a toy of no practical use, or that we hâve not spirit enough in the country to take a share in our self-defence, when we know that if we are compelled to do so, we shall hâve the power of the whole Empire at our back. — (398-399)

HON. Mr. BOTSFORD :— What did the British Government say when

the union of the Provinces took place? Did they not say in distinct terms "You must spend so much on the militia, and be prepared to défend yourselvea, before we will be ready to expend the revenues of the people of Great Britain to assist a people who are too craven to défend themselve».*' If I recollect right, our Government engaged to expend so much on the militia.

HON. SIR ALEX. CAMPBELL :— Yes. — (405)

HON Mr. REID : — If I understand the position of this country, Great

Britain expects us to assist in our own defence, and in return for that we hâve the whole force of the British army and navy, and her wealth as well, to aid us. Our vessels are protected by the British flag on every sea, and this we receive without any cost to us. Ail that we are expected to do is what every people should be prepared to do — protect our own home and fire-sides (407)

Le 7 mai 1883, au Sénat: —

HON. Mr. MASSON :— The late Premier of the Dominion, Mr. Macken-

zic, had stated at a meeting of the Rifle Association- that "no nation could be great unless it encouraged and cultivated the idea of national defence in connection with the national finances." (414)

(1) M. Scott voulait sans doute parler d'offres individuelles et non d'offres du gouvernement.

HON Mr. PLUMB : — Therc is no such thing as peace to the nations

cxccpt it is an armed peace where every nation is prepared to défend, and to assert if necessary, its own rights; and as a part of the great Empire to which *e belong he believcd it to be our duty to show that we are ready to do our share should the occasion arise to défend ourselTes from a foreign foe. — (415)

Expédition du Soudan — Refus du Canada d'y participer 0)

Xo. 8

The Rijcht Hon. the KARL OF DERBY, K.G., to Governor-General the Mont Hon. the