L. HAHCOURT

[NOTE.— This despatch was telegraphed on lOth December, 1912, wlth the followin* addition : —

His Majesty's Government propose to publish this despatch hère in a short Unie, and you will be informed of date when publication will take place.

No. 2.

The SECRETARY OF STATE to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

(Sent 8.50 p.m., lOth December, 1912.) Telearram.

Please Inform your Prime Minister that I hâve addressed following despatch by telegraph to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland, and bave Informed them that His Majesty's Government propose to publish despatch hère wlthin a short time and that date when publication will take place will be duly communicated.

[See No. 1.]

M. Borden communiqua ces deux dépêches à la Chambre des Communes, le 17 janvier, 1913, sans aucun commentaire.

Dette de " gratitude " du Canada 0)

If we are under no légal duty to participate in British wars, ought we to do so «s a matter of gratitude for — for what?

1. Ought we to be grateful — that is, ought we to continue, forever, to furnish the United Kingdom with men and money for ail her wars — because in the course of the European scramble for colonies, she took Canada from France?

Ought French Canadians (whom she defeated then) to be willing, for that reasou alone, one hundred and fifty years afterwards, to fight for her against Russia in Afghanistan?

Ought ail subséquent Canadian immigrants — English, Scotch, Irish and othcrs — to be willing, for that reason alone, to pledge their lives and their fortunes in support of foreign policies over which they hâve no control?

2. Ought we to be grateful for the stupidity which provoked the American war of independence, and the conséquent invasion of Canada?

3. Ought we to be grateful for the shameful surrende r of Canadian terri tory to the United States at the close of the war of independence?

4. Ought we to be grateful because the rebellious colonies were given admission to the coast fisheries of the loyal colonies, and because the loyal fishermen were excluded from the shores of the rebel colonies? Americans still bave rigbts in Canadian waters and give us plenty of trouble. Ought we to be grateful for that?

5. Ought we to be grateful because after the United States had forfeited lia fishery rights, by the war of 1812, a large part of them was re-granted because (at

(1) Extraits des Kingdom Papers, de John S. EWART, No 10: Difficolties, Dansera, Duty-Juin 1912— pages 323-328.

Lord Bathurst put it) the British Government felt "that the enjoyment of the liberties " foriuerly used by the inhabitants of the United States may be very conducive to their "national and individual prosperity"?

6. Ought we to be gruteful because by the joint efTect of the treaties of 1783 and 1818, ail those parts of the States of Dakota and Minnesota watered by the Red River were taken from the Hudson Bay Company, and handcd over to the United States?

7. Ought we to be grateful because by the joint effect of the treaties of 1783 and 1842 part of the state of Maine forms a wedge between New Brunswick and Québec?

8. Ought we to be grateful because of the concession to the United States of almost the whole of the State of Washington?