MEMORANDUM BY THE CANADIAN MINISTERS CONCERNING DEFENCE

The Canadian Ministers regret that they tons made by Lord Selborne respecting the Navy pecting the Army. The Ministers desire to point

they bear in connection With military ex ‘ble, Canada in the development of its own militia sys respond to that desire by taking upon itself some of which have hitherto been borne by the Imperial Government,

done by Canada must give assurance of the disposition of the Canadian people to

In the early years of the Dominon an understanding was come to between the Imperial and Canadian Governments that Canada should expend about 1,000,000 dols. annually on her militia s.stem, From

time to time that expenditure has been voluntarily increased, and at present, apart from the

special outlay in connectica With the maintenance of the Sarrison at Halifax, the Dominion 1s 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 have been made during the few years : notably the organization of an Army Medical Corps and the creation of an Army Service Corps, the strengthening of the h

exercise of greater care in th of greater facilities for the

corps, and at battalion headquarters for city corps, has been carried out each year during the past six Years. A school of

with most encouraging results ; rifle-ranges have been and are being constructed at the publie expense

at important centres all over the Dominion, and financial aid is being afforded to loca

l corps in smailer places for the s me object. Rifle Associations, whose members are pledged to military service,

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

1f required, are being organized, and their formation encouraged by the loan of rifles and by grants of free ammunition

t in sending contingents to South Africa Without referring to anything

that the first contingent, under Colonel Otter, composed of 1 se tion of Canada embraced within 4,000 miles of territory ani Pacific Oceans, was organized, fully equipped, and embarked Within a period of 14 days ; and that a second contingent, Composed of 1,200 men, composed of Field Artillery and Mountei Rifles, was short!y afterwards similariy organized, equipped and <mbarked within the space of three weeks.

But while thus calling attention to the Progress that has

Canada in her militia organization, the Ministers are far from has becn attained. If defects exist,

to form a Naval Reserve, and it js hoped that at an early day a system may be devised which will lead to the training of these m

In conclusion, the Ministers repeat that, while the Canadia to dissent from the measures proposed, they full

A consistent with the prineiple ef local self-government, which has proved s0 great a Imperial unity.

London, 11th August 1902.

Nouvelles déclarations de M. Laurier (:)

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 :—

of Great Britain. The views of that school and their expectations Were presented to us by the Right Hon. St. John Prodrick, 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 bad to Propose an absolute demurrer to the

that there are men, even in Canada, who use the argument that, because Canada js part of the British empire she should take part in the large ex provide the heavy armaments that Great Britain has inant 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

(1) Debates House of Commons, 1903. Col. 40 et 50, LE

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