CANADA AND EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9133, 4 July 1908, Page 4

CANADA AND EMPIRE.

Of'the speakers at the recent banquet of the Canadian Club in New York, Judge Longley seems to have been the only one who thought that the separation of Canada from England was inevitable. "Even now we have all the rights of a free and independent country," he said, "even in matters relating to foreign affairs, but there comes a time when a nation develops such power that it no longer desires to be a colony. When that time comes there will follow a mutual re-adju3tment, and Canada will assume her then natural relationship with the Mother Country. Instead of a dependency there will be an alliance." According to the London "Standard's" correspondent the tone of ttie other speakers was emphatically against the . idea of Canada leaving the fold. The British Ambassador declared that loyalty had never been stronger in Canada than it was to-day, and the Lieut-Go-vernor of Nova Scotia said he did not think the time would ever come when Canada would dte're to leave the Empire. The "Standard's" Ottawa correspondent reports that Judge Longley's speech attracted ro attention in Canada, where it is considered that he represents no important body of public opinion. "The

trend of the national mind is towards a closer binding of the ties of Empire through a developent of mutual trade relations.. Members of Parliament declare that the statement of Mr Bryce that Canada will always remain an integral part of the Empire more nearly expresses the present general opinion and the trend of events." As for the question of annexation by America, it is declared to be dead, but the good feeling between the two nations is likely to increase as the result of the impending settlement of difficulties.