SAFEGUARDING THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1495, 18 July 1912, Page 5

SAFEGUARDING THE EMPIRE.

THE DOMINIONS' SHARE,

CANADIAN PREMIER ON THE FUTURE. CRITICAL YEARS AHEAD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (licc. July 17, 11.10 p.m.) London, July 17. Mr. Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, was tho principal guest at the inaugural banquet of tho Empire Parliamentary Association. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, in a letter apologising for his absenco, said tho fact that many overseas Parliamentarians were pining for such an association showed that its founders had performed valuable work. Mr. Lyttelton, a former Unionist Secretary for tho Colonies, who presided, said that with many of those present the supreme idea for years had been an Imperial Navy, and along with it tho voice and influence for tho Dominions in the councils controlling the Empire's foreign relations. Mr. Borden, in responding to the toast "Overseas Members," dwelt with anomalies in the Imperial system. Tho British Parliament, lie 6aid, was no longer Imperial in • the highest sense. Its composition was determined mainly on domestic issues, with which the Dominions had no concern j yet it' controlled the Empire's relations and destinies. This .condition was littlo open to criticism, so long as British sea supremacy was unchallenged, or maintained by the British alone, because tho Dominions of tho Empire were wards. The time was not at hand when tho Dominions would bo called upon to take a reasonable and'legitimate share in safeguarding tho Empire's existence It was needless to say that in a time of peril every Dominion would respond not loss loyally and earnestly than the Motherland. One realised, however, that when the day of peril arrived, the day of effective preparation had perhnps passed. Those accepting a share of the responsibility for tho Empire's security must no longer be considered as wards by their self-constituted guardians. Canadians would never willingly accept such a condition. The next ten or twenty years would be critical, and possibly decisive, in tho Empire's history. He. could only say: "God grant that we will never have cause to regret that our opportunity is neglected and dead."