THE PREMIER'S STATEMENT

" There exists a great deal of misconception in the country regarding the powers " of the Governemcnt in the présent case ", sa4d Sir Wilfrid. " As I understand the ■ Militia Act, and I may say that I hâve given it some study af late, our volunteers are " enrolled to be used in the defence of the Dominion. They are Canadian troops, to "be used to fight for Canada's defence. Perhaps the most widespread misapprehen- " sion is that they cannot be sent out of Canada. To ray mind it is clear that cases " mi «lit arise when they might be sent to a foreign land to fight. To postulate a case: — " Suppose that Spain should déclare war upon Great Britain. Spain has, or had, a " navy, and that navy might be being got ready to assail Canada as part of the empire. " Somctimes the best method of defending one's self is to attack, and in that case " Canadian soldiers might certainJy be sent to Spain, and it is quite certain that they " legally might be so despatched to the Ibcrian Peninsula. The case of the South " Afrlcan Republic is not analogous. There is no menace to Canada, and, although we "may be wiJling to contribute troops, I do not see how we can do so. Then, again, " how could we do so without Parliament's granting us the money? We simply could - not do anytbing. In other words, we should hâve to summon Parliament. The Gov- "ernment of Canada is restricted in Its powers. It is responsible to Parliament, and " it can do very little without the permission of Parliament. There is no doubt as to M the attitude of the Government on ail questions that mean menace to British interests, " but in this présent case our limitations are very clearly defined. And so it is that " we hâve not offered a Canadian contingent to the home authorities. The Militia M Department duly transmitted individual offers to the Impérial Government, and the " reply from the War Office, as published in Saturday's Globe, shows their attitude on " the question. As to Canada's furnishing a contingent, the Government has not dis- "cussed the question for the reasons which I hâve stated — reasons which, I think, "must easily be understood by everyone who understands the constitutional law on the " question. The statement in The Military Gazette, published this morning, is a pure " invention. Far from possessing any foundation in fact, it is whoHy Imaginative."

(1) Reproduite du Globe, de Toronto, du 4 octobre 1899.

M. Tarte et la "Patrie"

De la Patrie du 5 octobre 1899: —