A.—7

54

APPENDIX VI.

MEMOEANDUM BY THE CANADIAN MINISTEES CONCEEMNG DEFENCE. The Canadian Ministers regret that they have been unable to assent to the suggestions made by Lord Selborne respecting the navy and by Mr. St. John Brodrick respecting the army. The Ministers desire to point out that their objections arise not so much from the expense involved as from_a belief that the acceptance of the proposals would entail an important departure from the principle of colonial self-government. Canada values highly the measure of local independence which has been granted it from time to time by the Imperial authorities, and which has been so productive of beneficial results, both as respects the material progress of the country and the strengthening of the ties that bind it to the Motherland. But while for these reasons the Canadian Ministers are obliged to withhold their assent to the propositions of the Admiralty and the War Office, they fully appreciate the duty of the Dominion, as it advances in population and wealth, to make more liberal outlay for those necessary preparations of self-defence which every country has to assume and bear. That the taxpayers of the United Kingdom should desire to be relieved of some of the burdens which they bear in connection with military expenditure is quite reasonable. Canada in the development of its own militia system will be found ready to respond to that desire by taking upon itself some of the services in the Dominion which have hitherto been borne by the Imperial Government. What has already been done by Canada must give assurance of the disposition of the Canadian people to recognise their proper obligations. In the early years of the Dominion an understanding was come to between the Imperial and Canadian Governments that Canada should expend about $ 1,000,000 annually on her militia system. From time to time that expenditure lias been voluntarily increased, and at present, apart from the special outlay in connection with the maintenance of the garrison at Halifax, the Dominion is spending about $2,000,000 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 past few years; notably the organization of an army medical corps and the creation of an army service corps, the strengthening of the headquarters and district staffs, the exercise of greater care in the selection of Permanent Force officers, and the affording of greater facilities for the training of the officers of the active militia. A militia pension law has been enacted for the staff and the Permanent Force. Annual drill in camps of instruction for the rural corps, and at battalion headquarters for city corps, has been carried out each year during the past six years. A school of musketry has been established at Ottawa, with most encouraging results; rifle ranges have been and are being constructed at the public expense at important centres all over the Dominion, and financial aid is being afforded to local corps in smaller places for the same object. Eifle associations, whose members are pledged to military service, if required, are being organized, and their formation encouraged by the loan of rifles and by grants of free ammunition. A reserve of officers has been established, and improvements have also been made in several other important respects. The work done by the Militia Department in sending contingents to South Africa may be fairly cited as proof of reasonable efficiency. Without referring to anything which was done outside the purely Canadian Contingents, it is worthy of mention that the first contingent, under Colonel Otter, composed of 1,000 men drawn from every section of Canada embraced within 4,000 miles of territory lying between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was organized, fully equipped, and embarked witnin a period of fourteen days; and that a second contingent, composed of 1,200 men, composed of field artillery and mounted rifles, was shortly afterwards similarly organized, equipped, and embarked within the space of three weeks. But while thus calling attention to the progress that has already been made by Canada in her militia organization, the Ministers are far from claiming that perfection has been attained. If defects exist, there is every desire on the part of the Canadian Government to remove them, and for this purpose the advice and assistance of experienced Imperial officers will be welcomed and all reasonable efforts made to secure an efficient system. At present Canadian expenditures for defence services are confined to the military side. The Canadian Government are prepared to consider the naval side of defence as well. On the seacoasts oE Canada there is a large number of men admirably qualified to form a Naval Eeserve, and it is hoped that at an early day a system may be devised which will lead to the training of these men ana to the making of their services available for defence in time of need. In conclusion, the Ministers repeat that, while the Canadian Government are obliged to dissent from the measures proposed, they fully appreciate the obligation of the Dominion to make expenditures for the purposes of defence in proportion to the increasing population and wealth of the country. They are willing that these expenditures shall be so directed as to relieve the taxpayer of the Mother-country from some of the burdens which he now bears; and they have the strongest desire to carry out their deience schemes in co-operation with the Imperial authorities, and under the advice of experienced Imperial officers, so far as this is consistent with the principle of local self-government, which has proved so great a factor in the promotion of Imperial unity. London, 11th August, 1902.