THE SPIRIT OF CANADA
By GRANT DEXTER Ottawa, September 18th.
TO those who know us, the first question to be asked about Canada's decision to enter the war will concern Quebec. French Canadians number more than a third of the total population (although not all of them are in Quebec). In the last war, after conscription in 1917, Quebec offered a passive resistance to Canada's war effort which at times bordered upon revolt. Blood was shed in Quebec city, and troops from Ontario had to be sent there to maintain order. The disunity so caused has continued down the years. The Conservative party, which Quebec blamed for con- scription, has never been forgiven, and to this day has never succeeded in winning more than a few of Quebec's 65 seats in the House of Commons.
The war, therefore, created a situation in Canada fraught with great danger to national unity. The English-speaking provinces were determined to join the Peace Front, to resist aggression, to support Britain—regardless of Quebec.
Prime Minister King declared the policy of the Govern- ment the moment war, in his judgement, became inevit- able. He said the policy of the Government as stated in the House of Commons last March (The Spectator, June 2nd) was unchanged. Canada would stand at Britain's side, but her effort would be voluntary ; there would be no conscription; Before committing the Dominion he would summon Parlia- ment and submit the issue of war or peace to it. If the Commons declined to accept the Government's policy, one of two things must happen. A new Government would have to be found or a general election held.
Parliament met on Thursday, September 7th, and the debate—more particularly the debate on the Saturday—was perhaps the most important the Commons had ever heard. The members from the English-speaking provinces, being of one mind, played an insignificant part. The French Canadians fought the issue out. Rt. Hon. Ernest Lapointe, Minister of Justice, heir of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and leader of Quebec Liberalism, took his stand with Mr. King for " unlimited " voluntary participation. He pledged himself and his colleagues from Quebec against conscription or compulsion in any form. If conscription is adopted, Mr. Lapointe will resign and place himself at the head of his people, in opposition to it. But short of conscription, he met the attacks of French Canadian isolationists directly and unequivocally.
The isolationists, led by Maxime Raymond, a Liberal from Beauharnois, whose sincerity and integrity are unquestioned, opposed all participation in external war. But they mustered only a handful of spokesmen in the debate, and in the division not one of them voted against the Govern- ment. Officially, therefore, Canada entered the war a united country. The only opposing vote came from J. S. Woodsworth, leader of the C.C.F. (Socialist) party, and a lifelong pacifist. Mr. Woodsworth did not speak for his party.
Although in previous articles in The Spectator it has been pointed out that Quebec was much more favourable to participation in war than was generally supposed, the actual vote exceeded the most sanguine hopes. It meant that Canada entered war unitedly and whole-heartedly. Moreover, enlistments in Quebec are astonishing even the French-Canadian Imperialists, of whom, extraordinary though it seems, there are a good few. Recruiting in Montreal is reported to be better than in Toronto.
Conceivably, no doubt, the event may prove that Canadian unity will not be able to survive the shock of war. The English-speaking sections of Canada are in the war to the last man and the last dollar. If conscription is necessary to exert Canada's full power, then conscription will be demanded and undoubtedly a Government will be found to adopt and enforce it—Quebec's antagonism not- withstanding. Mr. King's anti-conscription pledge, upon close inspection, is limited to the life of the " present administration." No English-speaking Minister, outside of Quebec, pledged himself against conscription.
But, meantime, the English-speaking sections are over- joyed to accept Quebec's co-operation and to prosecute the war on the voluntary basis. It may well be that this war will heal the wounds of 1914-18. In 1914-18 Quebec was grievously mishandled by the Borden Cabinet, which lacked proper French Canadian representation. This time these mistakes will not be repeated. French Canada's leading politicians are firmly placed in the present Government and are well able to assure equality of treatment for their com- patriots.
As for the Government's war policy, it will await the advice of the British Government. Meantime recruiting is in full swing. The present call for men includes adequate forces for the defence of Canada and two completely equipped army divisions. The Canadian Corps in France in the Great War comprised four divisions. The two divisions, it has been announced, will form the nucleus of an expeditionary force if such a force is required. Immediate steps are being taken to create as large an air-force as possible. A munitions and supply board has been set up to mobilise Canadian industries and resources for war service. Parliament appropriated $1 oo,000,000 as a start, but no limit other than the capacity of this country to produce and manufacture is placed upon the effort which will be made.
Canada's contribution to the Allied victory in 1918 has been generally regarded as substantial, but the Dominion is infinitely better equipped for war today than 20 years ago. Since 1919 there has been an immense development in industry of all kinds. Mining has made gigantic strides, placing this country in the front rank of producers of gold, copper, zinc and many other metals. Canada, of course, virtually has a world monopoly of nickel. The capacity of the country to produce food stuffs is all but unlimited.
At this moment, with the first shock of war still upon us, there is some confusion and uncertainty. The pegging cf Britain's food prices and the sharp drop in the dollar (Canadian) value of sterling, coupled with war increases in ocean rates, insurance, &c., have caused much dislocation. Obviously it will be necessary for the British Government to indicate the kinds of food that it is desirable for Canada to produce. The moment a plan is laid down, and there could be no better time than now for planning next year's crops, this confusion will disappear and Canadian acreage will be promptly and efficiently organised for war. Inci- dentally, it is well understood that Britain may desire credits in Canada rather than dip into her war-chest for purchases here. There will be no difficulty on that score, nor will there be the slightest murmur if Canadian invest- meats of $i,000,000,000 in the United States are mobilised for war purposes. Indeed, more than one member of Parliament suggested that the Government might well have provided Britain with $1 oo,000,000 at the brief war session now ended, with which to buy food for her people.
There was remarkably little enthusiasm in Canada when war came. Canadians have a keen realisation of what war means. But this Dominion, French Canadian Quebec in- cluded, has entered this war open-eyed and grimly deter- mined to see it through.
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