The morning call., 1892-03-11
CANADA's LOYALTY.
Leading Questions Asked the Govern
l... har IL lar L..

Leading Questions Asked tha Govern
ment by Members OF Parliament.
LONDON, March 10.-The question OF the
defeDses of the harbor of Esquimalt, Van
couver Island. was raised in the House of
Commons this afternoon and was discussed
with heat by Lord George Francis Hamilton.
First Lord of the Admiralty, and several
Liberal members. Hardly had the breeze
died ont when the Berng Sea controversy
was brought before the House by questions
addressed by Edward TempeTley Gourley,
an advanced Liberal member from Sunder-
land, and answered for the Government by
James William LOwiher, the Under Secre-
tary OF the Foreign Office.
Ferguson, the Liberal member from
Leith, asked Lord Hamilton. Does the
site of the nayy-yard at Esquimalt belong
TO Canada or to the erown?"
''Are any advantages secured to her Ma
Jesty's vessels at EsQuimalt harbor that
are not accorded them IN the ports OF the
United States, France or other civilized
nationsp"
III the garrison be put under the orders
OF the Canadian Government will the home
government have any means of assuring
Itself OF the support OF the same for her
Majesty's fleet in times OF war;
If as suggested, Canada decides TO cast
her lot with the United States and become
Incorporated with that country. would she
carry with her the guns and other porta bic
equipments of tile Notifications ?"
An Exciting Episode.
The interTogatOries were delivered amid
q storm If eXclamations and remonstIance
The last question was put IN such way as
TO suggest that in times of war or threatened
war the Imperial Government could not
rely upon the loyalty of Canada. The i'm
preston was that the speaker intended to
say that Canada had drifted too far toward
the United States 10 be trusted 20 cooperate
with the mother country in the case Of
trouble with the United States.
Lord Hamilton said: The site of the
dockyard at EsQuimaIt belongs 10 the
crown, and the Canadian Government has
reserved for her Majesty's ships exclusively
portion OF the harbor. The Canadian Gov
| ernment will provide a site for the fortifica-
tons and guns aud will be responsible for
the manning of them. The honorable gen
tieman's other questions seemed to have
been put with the Object of causing an infer
ence that in time of trouble or danger Can
ada VIII not be ready TO cooperate with the
home Government. | decline to answer
these hypothetical questions, which are
| prompted by suppositions at once injudi-
ciouS and dangerous"
Another Stormy Scene.
Ferguson jumped 10 his feet, asking, 81
beg the First Lord of the Admiralty to
answer the Inquiry whether. in the event
OF Canada separating herself from her
Msiesty's empire the guns, stores and am
munltion, as well as the Notifications, Will
belong to the imperial Government"
The House was in a hubbub when Fer
gusson sat down, and rang with cries Of
"OrderW Don't answerY'
Lord Hamilton made no reply. Under
Secretary LOwiher in response to the in
quiries Of Mr.. Gourley as to the report of
the Bering Sea Commission, said all the
Commissioners had signed the joint report
embodying the points which they were
agreed as regards the protection and pres
ervation OF the seal industry. The points
upon which no agreement had been arrived
at (and these were the main points, he
added, concerned the length of the season
round the pelagic Islands. These questions
will be referred to the Arbitration Commits
sion for settlement.