MEMORANDUM BY THE CANADIAN MINISTERS CONCERNING DEFENCE

The Canadian Ministers regret that they hâve been unable to assent to the suggestions made by Lord Selborne respecting the Navy and by Mr. St. John Brodrick respecting the Army. The Ministers désire to point out that their objections arise, not so much from the expense involved, as from a belief that the acceptance of the proposais would entail an important doparture from the principle of Colonial self-jtorernment. Canada values highly the measure of local independence which has been granted it from timc to time by the Impérial Authorities, and which has been so productive of bénéficiai results, both as respects the material progress of the country and the strengthening of the ties that bind it to the Mother-land. But while, for thèse reasons, the Canadian Ministers are obliged to withhold their assent to the propositions of the Admiralty and the War Office, they fully appréciatif the dnty of the Dominion, as it advances in population and wealth, to make more libéral outlay for those necessary préparations of self-defence which every country has to assume and bear.

That the taxpayers of the United Kingdom should désire to be relieved of some of the burdens which they bear in connection with military cxpenditure is quite reasonable. Canada in the development of its own militia system will be found ready to respond to that désire by taking upon itself some of the services in the Dominion which hâve hitherto been borne by the Impérial Government. What has already been done by Canada must give assurance of the disposition of the Canadian people to recognize their proper obligations.

In the early years of the Dominon an understanding was corne to between the Impérial and Canadian Governments that Canada should cxpend a bout 1,000,000 dois, annually on her militia system. From time to time that cxpenditure has been voluntarlly increased, and at présent, apart from the spécial outlay in connection with the maintenance of the garrison at Halifax, the Dominion is expending about 2,000,000 dois, annually on her militia.

The efficiency of the Canadian Militia Service having been called in question, it may be of interest to note that many improvements havc been made during the past few years ; notably the organization of an Army Médical Corps and the création of an Army Service Corps, the strengthening of the headquarters and district staffs, the exercise of greater care in the sélection of permanent force officers, and the affording of greater facllities for the training of the officers of the active militia.

A Militia Pension Law has been enacted for the staff and the permanent force. Annual drill in camps of Instruction for the rural corps, and at battalion headquarters for city corps, has been carried out each year during the past six years. A school of musketry has been established at Ottawa, with most encouraging results ; rifle-ranges hâve been and are being constructed at the public expense at important centres ail over the Dominion, and financial aid is being afforded to local corps in smaller places for the same object. Rifle Associations, whose members are pledged to military service,

(1) Colonial Conférence 1902 [Cd 1299]. Appendix VI, page 73.

if required, are being organized, and thcir formation encouraged by the loan of rifles and by grants of free ammunition. A reserve of officers has been established, and improvements hâve also been made in several other important respects.

The work done by the Militia Department in scnding contingents to South Africa may be fairly cited as proof of reasonable efficiency. Without referring to anything which was done outside of the purely Canadian contingents, it is worthy of mention that the first contingent, under Colonel Otter, composed of 1,000 mem drawn from every s© tion of Canada embraced within 4,000 miles of territory lying between the Atlantic an 1 Pacific Océans, was organized, fully equipped, and embarked within a period of 14 days ; and that a second contingent, composed of 1,200 men, composed of Fleld Artillery and Mounted Rifles, was shortly afterwards similarly organized, equipped and embarked within the space of three weeks.

But while thus calling attention to the progress that has already been made by Canada in het militia organization, the Ministers are far from claiming that perfection has been attained. If defects exist, there is every désire on the part of the Canadian Government to remove them, and for this purpose the advice and assistance of experienced Impérial officers will be welcomed and ail reasonable efforts made to secure an efficient System.

At présent Canadian expenditures for defence services are confined to the military side. The Canadian Government are prepared to consider the naval aide of defence as well. On the sea-coasts of Canada there is a large number of men admirably qualified to form a Naval Reserve, and it is hoped that at an early day a System may be devtsed which will lead to the training of thèse men and to the making of their services available for defence in time of need.

In conclusion, the Ministers repeat that, while the Canadian Government are obilged to dissent from the measures proposed, they fully appreciate the obligation of the Dominion to make expenditures for the purposes of defence in proportion to the increasing population and wealth of the country. They are willing that thèse expenditures shall be so directed as to relieve the taxpayer of the mother country from some of the burdens which he now bears; and they hâve the strongest désire to carry ou! their defence schemes in co-operation with the Impérial authorities, and under the advice of experienced Impérial officers, so far aa this is consistent with the prinelple of local self-grovernment, which has proved so great a factor in the promotion of Impérial unity.

London, llth August 1902.

Nouvelles déclarations de M. Laurier 0)

Le 13 mars 1903, le premier ministre, sir Wilfrid LAURIER, répondant au leader de l'opposition, au début du débat sur l'Adresse, rend compte de son attitude à la Conférence de Londres: —

The PRIME MINISTER (Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid LAURIER) :— There is a school in

Great Britain to-day, especially ip the officiai world, whose object for years past has been to bring Canada into the military organizations of Great Britain. The views of that school and their expectations were presented to us by the Right Hon. St. John Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, and by Lord Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty. But we could not see eye to eye with them, we could not approve their views, and had to propose an absolute demurrer to their contentions. I am aware that there are men, even in Canada, who use the argument that, because Canada is part of the British empire she should take part in the large expenditure necessary to provide the heavy armaments that Great Britain has to maintain because of her dominant position in the world. I can not see the force of that logic. It would Imply that Great Britain and Canada were on a footing of equality, whereas we know that

(1) Debates House of Commoni, 1903. Col. 49 et 50.

they are not on such a footing. Grcat Britain has powers that we hâve not. To mention no cthers, she has the treaty making powers which we hâve not. And the powers noî heing co-extensive, the obligations cannot be co-extensive. That argument would imply also that Canada and Great Britain hâve the same interest in ail things. But we know by expérience that we hâve not the same interests. The interests of Canada are divergent from those of Great Britain in many instances. This is seen in the fact that no two of the self-governing parts of the British empire hâve the same fiscal policy. That argument would imply also that Great Britain and Canada are on the same footing of develpment. Sir, we know only too well that we hâve obligations in this country which Great Britain is rid of. As a conséquence of our geographical position, the immensity of our territory and the sparsity of our population, we hâve to assume obligations, to face difficulties and to perform works which in the parent country are left to private enterprise. But though, in ail thèse, the position of the mother country and the colony may be unequal, yet, in the colony there is equal national pride and constitutional jealousy of our rights. This, therefore, makes it absolutely impossible to cntertain the proposition made to us. But I confcss that we owe it to ourselves as a nation — as we claim to be — to assume our own defence. And, so far as that goes, if we hâve to spend more money upon military and naval service, I am sur;- that parliament and the Canadian people will not grudge any sum demanded for that purpose. But to spend money outside of Canada for military purposes is a proposition that the Canadian people, I believe, are not prepared to accept at this moment. When, in 1899, we took part in the South African war, we did it not under any obligation, not in the exécution of any duty which rested upon us — and, to give Great Britain her due, she did not claim it on such grounds either — but we did it simply because we thought it was right and proper to do so. But we refused to be bound for the future, and the position we took then I maintain still