The Canadian Commons in Monday's debate made it clear not
only that Dominion statesmen are steadfastly opposed to hereditary titles for Canadians, but also that a strong party " has no use for " titles of honour of any kind. Mr. Nickle urged immediate action to prevent " a fresh crop of titles owing to the war." Sir Robert Borden surprised the House by producing a Government Order, already forwarded to the Imperial authorities, refusing—of course by way of " recommendations "—hereditary titles for Canadians, and affirming that no honour or title, save for military services, should be conferred by the King upon any Canadian, except with the approval and on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. A further recommendation would, after a certain lapse of time, wipe out, for example, Lord Beaverbrook's hereditary rights, if he resumed Canadian residence. It is not astonishing that after Sir Wilfrid Laurier had offered to burn his title publicly, " if he could do so without disrespect to the Crown," the debate was adjourned on the suggestion of the Prime Minister.
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