Commonwealth and Foreign

WHAT CANADA THINKS OF BRITAIN

By SYLVIA STEVENSON

" DO you still think of Britain as your Mother Country ? " This was the question, especially apposite in view of the present drive for Empire unity, which I addressed to Canadians from coast to coast on my recent visit. The answers varied even when the interrogated were of British, or part British, stock.

People who have never set foot in the Dominion of Canada are apt to think of it simply as a British annex, a uniform red patch on the map. To such travellers the discovery that on first landing they are greeted in the French language gives pause for thought. As they continue on that marvellous trans-continental journey, through towns and pine forests, endless plains and mountain passes, their sense of its great variety increases. They find that Canada consists of not one country, but at least five beautiful, mutually wary countries— a collection of Balkan States only loosely held together at Ottawa. And only alike, it seems, in the tradition they all so nobly uphold of hospitality to the visitor.

Take the province of Quebec, where over go per cent. of the population are French Catholics and opposed to democracy. " Les Canadiens " they proudly call themselves, as apart from the rest of Canada. Does the habitant look on Britain as the centre of his culture and his grateful affections ? Watch him tilling his narrow strip of land running back, in the ancient Norman way, from the river, and you will begin to see how he may consider the English as merely alien conquerors. He was there first ! That remains his feeling, however strongly his broader-minded leaders may dissent.

In adjoining Ontario the scene is shifted. Here Canada and the United States are in the closest touch geographically and psychologically. Besides the vast American tourist traffic, constant rivalry in sport promotes understanding. Splendid new skyscrapers crowd the old frame buildings out of sight. Films, with few (and mostly bad) British exceptions, are pure Hollywood. American newspapers and magazines, putting forward American opinions on world conditions, are on sale almost exclusively. Advertising even of British goods is American-style. English roses grow in charming gardens, bat American heating wilts them indoors.

The objections expressed by Ontario's Labour leaders to the growing power of American hydro-kings and oil-barons- who, they allege, keep wages low while spending profits in the States—show the extent to which American capital now controls industry. The fluctuations of the market on Wall Street, only ten hours distant, cause many black faces on Toronto streets.

The result of all this is that there are two schools of thought as regards Canada's membership of the British Empire. One, the more conservative, is as passionately loyal as ever. These intensely pro-British Canadians cherish in their hearts a picture of some English village from which their ancestors originally came. When, on visiting this same village, they find the thatched cottages replaced by hideous housing estates and the parish pump converted into petrol pumps, they yet manage to retain the dream. To them the idea that Canada might ever cease to belong to the Empire is inconceivable.

But there is another body of opinion which favours separa- tion. They are on the Left politically and most of them are young.

" We consider," said one University graduate, " that for the British Empire to claim one generation in twenty years is plenty. Next time, unless Britain is attacked without provocation, we shall refuse to be dragged into war. Perhaps we shall refuse in any case. Why should Canadians sacrifice their lives in your European quarrels ? Canada must keep clear ! Till her strength is full grown, her interests lie .rather with America than Britain. There lies her best chance of being left in peace."

" What's England ever done for me, I ask you ? " was thl" way a tough-looking street-car driver put it.

For him the word had no magic associations. It was the name of an island he would never see, about which he knew very little. If the call came to stand by a threatened Britain, would he hurry to the recruiting station as his father did in 1914 ? Not if the Socialist propagandists have their way.

The Prairie dweller has yet another point of view. If he happens to be British born (many of the foreign settlements can scarcely muster a word of English), his Empire loyalties are sound enough. But he has a grievance. Why did Britain send out, during the boom years of increased emigration, so many fools and dupes whose one motto was " Get rich and quit " ? Knowing nothing of the conditions nor of scientific large-scale farming, they exhausted the soil with too rapid crop- ping, tried to grow wheat on pasture land, and generally laid the foundations for disastrous droughts and famine.

Prospects are improving now, new methods of irrigation are being tried. But Poles, Czechs and Swedes are among the most successful of surviving corn growers. It appears they are content if they can make a modest living and rear a healthy family, who all share in the work. British Canadians admit, regretfully, that they find them more satisfactory workers than the present generation of their own compatriots. We might remember for the future that : " Go West, young man ! " has a corollary : " Remittance-men, elegant gentle- men farmers and speculators are not wanted."

British Columbia, with its gentler coastal climate, remains the most British in sympathy of Canadian provinces. But here too a warning is in place. Japanese, Chinese and " Hindu " labour, hastily imported during the boom years, now takes the bread out of the mouths of white Canadians —so the agitators put it. (Others say the trouble is, again, that these Orientals work too hard for the white man's competition.) Among industries lumber and mining are increasing in importance, even apart from rearmament— newsprint plants roar night and day—but Japanese or American capital finances most of the largest undertakings. The cry is for more British capital, for a renewal of confidence which was badly shaken by many a sharepusher in the past.

This province in particular has magnificent natural assets that not even the wasteful methods of grasping pioneers have succeeded in destroying, so far. Young trees are now being planted, better late than never, to replace the ravages of old style timber hauling. Mining experts are called in, to consider costs of transport, before forming companies to exploit the yet untouched deposits of gold, copper, pitch- blende which undoubtedly exist. New markets are being sought for the fruit of the fertile Okanagan valley. In all these fields there are, or will soon be, openings for the British settler. But only at present for men with technical experience and/or private means of some sort.

East and West, the best informed opinion holds that Britain could have much to give Canada today. Steadiness, foresight and integrity are traditional British qualities which are particularly needed in contemporary Canadian affairs. It is the Britons with these qualities who can do most to keep the link with the Empire unbroken.

We have to show Canadians, by our genuine sympathy and interest, by sending out our finest not our weakest human material, that we value their friendship in itself, for all time ! And not merely at moments when it may happen to suit some ulterior purpose, as they are inclined to suspect. If we can do that, the old loyalties will survive in spite of many stresses and strains.