CANADA IN WARTIME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 5

CANADA IN WARTIME.

FIGHT OR NOT?

OTTAWA PARLIAMENT TO DECIDE;

LAURIER'S WAY.

By TeleeroDh—Presß Association—Copyrleßt

(Rec. February 4, 9.30 p.m.) Ottawa, February 4. In the Dominion House of Commons

the Prime' Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, moved the second reading of the Navy : Bill, providing for the establishment of a Canadian squadron of second-class cruisors and destroyers... .

Sir. Wilfrid Laurier said that the Gov. ernment, would stand or fall by their policy, but fall they ..would, hot, for their policy-was in accordance with the best traditions •of the Liberal party. It was the latest link in a long chain of events springing from principles.that had been enunciated by reformers of old, and which had brought Canada to the rank, dignity, and status of a nation' within the. Empire'./ '•

Tho Divided Opposition. , The Conservatives, said Sir Wilfrid, were divided in. counsel and in action. Some were Pharisees of Imperialism, demanding a direct contribution by Canada to the Imperial Navy, and giving the Admiralty automatic; control' of the. Canadian Navy, 1 , with Canadian participation in all British wars.: .The-other section,; Conservatives of Quebec, wanted no Canadian ■'; Navy:. and no. Canadian, participa-

tion in British wars. The Prime Minister continued:. .'-; ''';/ -;-,'■

"I do not pretend to be an Imperialist. I; am a Canadian first, lasty and all the time, but a British subject by. birth and.conviction. The true policy, and the one in'accordance with the spirit of, British Institutions, is" for the Parliament of Canada,!; which creates the Canadian Navy, to! say when and) where it :will go to war.".;"- > y ' •■.•-.'■'■.■•'•;: •"■!■■■;'

, Explaining his, recent statement'- in the House,; to tlB. effect. Ithaf when Britain ' is .at war Canada' is at war, Sir .Wilfrid :said this - was merely . a statement of, a principle of international lawi'. When a country was at war, all its 'possessions wero liable. .to. attack./. Ha saw ..; no . immediate; monace to the' country's., peace. The' Government would, after the Bill ;was passed, 'call .tenders', for' tho. con,struction,of a" shipbuilding plant for.the Dominion of Canada. . This plant would take a year': to .'erect. -, ; The,, vessels proposed . could' thereat tec be *' constructed in 'four, years.,,;'//.' :/::;/'V'/, ■'.'.'■'""■'.: Amendment for Contributton to Imperial'. . / , ■'■ .■.■: ,'■•■', ~;,. .Navy. : ° '.'.;:.■':. './:,;. '. ; Mr. B. L. Borden, Leader /of the Con..seryative ■■_' Opposition,,/' oritioisod' : the speech, and moved an amendment .declaring: ':.'■■' .■'". '.'■■ .''";,■/.';'•■ : ..' That: the. Government*s'.proposals aa to a Canadian Nilyy.'do/not follow "the sug-'| gestions and recommendations' of .tho Ad- • miralty; that, ..so. far as .'.'they empower'! the Government; pf ; Canada to. withhold i Canada's; naval forces, from: those/of-/the.-! Empire in war-time,, tie;.proposals''■.; are .ill-advised, .dangerous; expensive,.give .'no .immediate or., effective. aid," and as a permanent, ■policy should not be entered upon: until they have been Bub'mitfed'"to : and" approyed.by.;the.people^of:Canada ;■that in .the'/meantime,";Canada's';'■'.duty and :■, tie; Empire's .impending.necessities", can best be met by. placing immediately at/the disposal of the.lmperial,authorities -sum-' 1 :cient;to purchase or, construct: two\pread-' '"?»bW'. pvingi'tlo.'Admiralty full';■ dis';; '.cretibn to expcnd,the/m6ney;,M/sucb'time "hnd,':vfor','\ i SUchj. ; ;;'.'p.ur^ses' i .i > oi.''.; defence ;as in^.their/judgment may/best 'serve'and' increase" the united strength; of ; the .'Em-' .piro;' and'' thus/assure, its peace" and' so-; ourity./- / i ■./'//. ; /// //./,/, ■'=" /.///;;-/:/

[The proposed; i composition .of tho. Ca- ■ nadian fleet, 'and* the: debate to which referenco is mado'in: to'-day's.cablegrams, were published in The Dominion .of January, li.: Mr. T. S.Spronle. raised the; question whether, "emergency*', meant war' in Canada or. abroad. 1 Sir' Wilfrid Lau-; rier replied: "War anywhere." If Britain . is, at- .war "with any .nation /in 'the world,.Canada'.iij liable.to.invasion, and .Canada, is,. The'leader of:'the Quobeo Conservatives who want -no local navy and no-contribution':ia Mr. F. D.. Monk.] •• .''.' ■:. :..-'. '.. • - ■.:■ •: •