THE CANADIAN MISSION TO ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 323, 13 November 1865, Page 2

THE CANADIAN MISSION TO ENGLAND.

[From the Standard, August 26.] The following is the report of the Canadian delegates to England, as laid upon the table of Parliament at Quebec on the 9th inst:— TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE EIGHT HON. VISCOUNT MONCE, GOVEBNOB-GENEEAL OF BEXTISH NOltTIl AJIEEICA, &C. _ May it please your Excellency,—The undersigned having by order in Council of the 24th of March, 1865, been appointed a committee of the Executive Council of Canada to proceed to Engand confer with ber Majesty’s Government on certain subjects of importance to the province, sailed for England in April last, and, having discharged the duty entrusted to them and returned to Canada, we now beg to submit for your Excellency’s information a statement of our proceedings while in London. The circumstances under which this mission became necessary arc doubtless fresh in your Excellency’s recollection. For a considerable time past, in view of the civil war going on in the united States, and the impossibility of anticipating what international questions might at any moment arise, her Majesty’s Government felt it their duty from time to time to direct the attention of the Government of Canada to the insecure position of the province in the event of disturbed relations unhappily resulting, and to urge the adoption of protective measures. In these communications it was not concealed that her Majesty’s Government expected the people of Canada to assume more onerous military duties than they had previously borne. Your Excellency’s advisers were always prepared frankly to consider these proposals, and to submit for the approval of Parliament such measures as might be found just and reasonable; but they felt, at the same time, that to secui-c the hearty assent of Parliament and the country for any important changes in the military relations between the parent state and the colony, an explanation on the whole subject should first bo had, so that a clear understanding as to the share of defence to be borne by each might be arrived at, and all ground of irritating and hurtful reproach for alleged neglect of duly by the colony entirely removed. In view- also of the anticipated early union of all the British North American colonies—so well calculated to simplify the system of defence—the Government of Canada deemed it highly desirable that the settlement of this important question should be reserved fertile action of the Government and Legislature of the new Confederation. Her Majesty’s Government concurred in these views.

In the early part of the year, however, events occurred that changed the situation of affairs. The conference at Fortress Monroe for the cessation of hostilities, the disturbances on the Canadian frontier, the imposition of the passport system, the notice given hy the -American Government for a termination of the convention restricting the naval armaments on the Lakes, and other events, tended to revive and deepen the feeling of insecurity, and her Majesty’s Government urged the immediate erection of permanent works of defence at Quebec and Montreal—the cost of the former to be borne by the Imperial Treasury, and oi the latter by the people of Canada. Your Excellency's advisers were most anxious to meet the wishes of her Majesty’s Government, but they could net feel it their duty to propose to Parliament a vote for defensive works at Montreal while the defence of Upper Canada, on land and on the lakes, was unprovided for. The position of a flairs was further complicated by the result of the New Brunswick elections, which postponed, at least for a time, the union of the provinces, and by theformal notice given by the American Government for the termination, in March next, of the Reciprocity Treaty. It became evident that the time had arrived, and could no longer be postponed, for a full and a frank explanation with her Majesty’s Government on the whole state of affairs, and with that view an immediate mission to England, with your Excellency's assent, was resolved upon. The state of the case was forthwith communicated to tue Legislative Council and Assembly, which was then in session, and Parliament was shortly after prorogued, on the understanding that it would be summoned to learn the result of the negociations, and complete the business of the session, as soon S 3 the delegates returned from Great Britain.

On arriving in England we lost no time in placing ourselves in communication with her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies ; and a committee of the Imperial cabinet, consisting of his Grace the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. the Earl de Grey and Eipon, the Eight Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and the bight Hon. Edward Cardwell, having been appointed to confer with us, negotiations were opened, and continued at frequent interviews up to the close of the mission. The subject to which we first invited the attention of the conference was the proposed confederation of the British North American colonies. We reminded the Imperial Ministers how largely ail the questions with the discussion of which were charged—and especially those of defence, foreign commercial relations, and internal communication • —would be afiected by the union, and how greatly their satisfactory settlement would be facilitated by it. We explained the reasons that existed for obtaining the assent of all the colonics to the Union at an early date, and the promise to which the Government of Canada stood pledged to proceed without delay with constiiu'ioital reforms fot Canada alone in the event of the larger mea-

sure failing to be obtained. We received at once from the members of the Imperial cabinet assurances of their hearty approval of the confederation scheme, and, of their anxious desire To proB?ote its early accomplishment byaU the legitimate influence of the Imperial Government. In the discussion of the means tq be adopted for effecting confederation we, trust it is unneccessary to assure your Excellency that the idea of coercing maritime provinces into the measure was not for a moment entertained. The end sought was to ascertain in what manner the question of union in all its bearings could be best brought under the full and fair consideration of our fellow colonists, and the grave responsibility urged upon them which they would assume by thwarting a measure so pregnant with future prosperity to British America, so anxiously desired by the great mass of the people to be affected by it, and which had been received with such marked satisfaction by our fellow-subjects throughout the British empire. We received assurance that her Majesty’s Government would adopt every legitimate means for securing the early assent of the maritime provinces to the union. In the course of these discussions, the question of the inter-colonial railway came up, as a necessary accompaniment of confederation, when we sought and obtained a renewal of the promised Imperial guarantee of a loan for the construction of that work.

The important question of future military relations between the mother country and Canada, received earnest and grave consideration. Before entering on the discussion of details, we referred to the recent debates in the Imperial Parliament on the subject of Canadian defences, and especially to the assertions confidently made by certain members of the House of Commons, that Canada was incapable of efficient protection against invasion across her inland border. We explained the injury such statements tended to produce, and the necessity of our ascertaining, as a preliminary step to our discussions, whether or not they were well founded. We asked that a report on the whole subject of the defence of Canada, with plans and estimates, might be obtained from the highest military and naval authorities of Great Britain. Such a report was obtained and communicated to us confidently, and we rejoice to say that it is calculated to remove all doubt as to the security of our country, so long as the hearts of our people remain firmly attached to the British flag, and the power of England is wielded in onr defence. (to be continued.)