Correspondence

A LETTER ABOUT THE CANADIAN CONSERVATIVE LEADER.

[TO the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sta,—Mr. R. B. Bennett, who has succeeded to the leadership of the Conservative Party, has been called " the Canadian Winston Churchill," to whom, indeed, he bears a striking resemblance, both intellectually and physically. Like the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, he is of the Left of Toryism, an apostle of Tory Democracy. He comes of a stock which has been the backbone of Canada's modern development. His ancestors came from England to the North American continent nine generations ago ; a century later they followed the United Empire Loyalists to New Brunswick. There, a few miles from the birthplace of Andrew Bonar Law, Mr. Bennett was born. After a high school and University education and a few years of practice at law, he went to Alberta, and for more than thirty years has been actively identified with the political and financial life of the West.

In 1911 Mr. Bennett was first elected to the House of

Commons as Conservative member for Calgary, and soon achieved a nation-wide reputation as parliamentarian and politician. He was, however, of an independent turn of mind, with the consequence that political promotion passed him by for infinitely lesser men. His talents did not receive proper recognition ; indeed, until the war crisis of 1917, when Sir Robert Borden appointed him as Director of National Service. In that capacity Mr. Bennett greatly enhanced his reputation, and it was largely due to his work that the country was prepared for the subsequent measure of conscription.

In 1921 Mr. Bennett became Minister of Justice in Mr.

Meighen's short-lived Cabinet ; and in the equally brief existence of the Meighen ministry during the summer of 1926 he was Minister of Finance. While his experience in office was too fleeting to enable him to achieve a permanent reputa- tion as an administrator, he was generally regarded as Mr. Meighen's ablest lieutenant, and as a fearless, original, and authoritative adviser in council.

In selecting Mr. Bennett as its chieftain the Canadian Conservative Party has chosen one who is believed to be the stoutest friend of British connexion to lead any Canadian political group since Confederation. Sir John Macdonald's Imperialism was tinctured with a virile spirit of Nationalism; while Mr. Meighen and Sir Robert Borden have both been suspect by ultra-Imperialists, though quite unjustly, as leaning toward actual separation. No such suspicion can ever exist in respect of Mr. Bennett. He is a thoroughgoing Imperialist of the old-fashioned school, his devotion to the British Empire and the Mother Country admitting of no misunderstanding. He believes in Canada as a free member of the British Commonwealth, but boldly holds that that freedom and that association involve defence obligations on Canada's part which she cannot shirk. Thus, last year, when Mr. Meighen's Hamilton speech had created misgivings in the minds of many Conservatives over the Nationalistic tendencies of their party, Mr. Bennett went into the province

of Quebec, and, addressing an audience among whom Imperial- istic sentiments were not likely to be popular, said this :— "There are those who speak with bated breath of Iniperialism.

Ott just ask Yourselves what would the world be to-day without the British Empire ? And then ask yourselves whether the destinies of this Dominion can best be worked out as part of the Empire or separate from it ? Foreign relations are bound up with Imperial relations. Are wo to claim separate, independent nationhood, and yet look to another nation to defend us ? Every time you send a load of merchandise abroad you have to face that question."

Unlike Sir Robert Borden and other leading Canadian Conservatives, Mr. Bennett discerned little merit in the establishment of a Canadian Finbassy at Washington: and

last session in Parliament argued fervently against it. On that occasion he used this language :--

" I feel more strongly in regard to this departure than I have respecting any other that has come before this House this session: And with all of my ability I shall oppose it. This country, apparently, is entering on a great adventure, the last great adventure in our relations to the British Empire. I am wholly opposed to the establishment of this Embassy at Washington. It is but the doctrine of separation, it is but the evidence in many minds of the end of our connexion with the Empire. It means nothing else ultimately, because if wo are a sovereign State we cannot belong to tho British Empire."

It cannot be said that the majority of Mr. Bennett's Party share his misgivings regarding representation at Washington.

In one other respect Mr. Bennett reveals his strong pro- Imperial sentiments. No other Canadian political leader has been so insistent upon a policy of land settlement that shall give first recognition to British immigrants ; and it is certain that if and when he assumes office a vigorous policy of Empire settlement may be looked for from the Government.

As a parliamentary orator Mr. Bennett is surpassed by few in Canada. There are other speakers who possess gifts which cannot be claimed for him. There is more magic in Sir George Foster's vocabulary and phrases. There is more subtlety in Mr. Meighen's intellectual gymnastics. Higher spirits and more sparkling wit distinguish Mr. Lapointe's mocking invective ; but Mr. Bennett's eloquence, though sometimes pedestrian—occasionally punctuated by such old- fashioned cliches as " I venture to think "—never fails to rise to the height of a big oe,easion, and then frequently conforms to the best classical traditions. He does not, it is true, excel in epigram ; but the cadences of his phrases have some- thing of that musical rhythm which one associates with the old Victorians : and his literary allusions bear constant witness to the depth and width of his reading.

Long interested in large financial enterprises, with wealth and leisure at his disposal, Mr. Bennett has travelled more widely and has more of culture than is ordinarily the case with Canadian politicians. Excepting Sir Robert Borden, Mr. King, and Mr. Rowell, he is perhaps better known in London than any other Canadian, Lord Haldane, Mr. Amery, and Lord Birkenhead being among his close associates.—I am, Sir, &e.i

A CANADIAN -CORRESPONDENT.