The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-11
A STORMY TIME.
Heated Debate in the Commons
on Esquimault's DetenSes.
Lord Hamilton is Asked If Canada Can be
Depended on in Time OF Trouble
An UprOar Ensues

LONDON, March 10.-The question of the
defenses of the harbor of Esquimault Van
couver island, was raised IN the commons
this afternoon. 1t was discussed with heat
by Lord George Francis Hamilton, first
lord of the admiralty, and several Liberal
interrogators. Hardly had the breeze died
out when the Behring sea controversy was
brought before the house by questions
addressed by Edward Temperly GOurley.
Advanced Liberal member from Sunder-
land, and answered for the government by
James William Lowther, under secretary
for the foreign Office. Ferguson Liberal
member from leith, asked Lord Hamilton:
docs the site of the navy yard at Esqui-
mault belong to Canada or to the crowns!
Are any advantages secured to her
majesty's vessel at Esquimault har
Dor that are not accorded them
in the ports of the United States
France or other civilized nations!
If the garrison be put under the orders
of the Canadian government, will the
home government have any means of as
surfing itself of the support of the same for
her ma esty's fleet in time of war! If, as
suggested, Canada desires to cast her lot
with the United States and become incor-
porated with that country, would she carry
with her the guns and other portable equip
ments of the fortifcationsa"
| The interrog atories were delivered amid
storm of EXPLANATIONS and remonstraLc CO.
! The last questions were put in such a way
as to suggest that in times of war or
threatened war the imperial government
could not rely upon the loyalty of Canada.
| The impression was that the speaker in
tended to say Canada had drifJed too far
toward the United States to be trusted 10
CO. operate with the mother country in case
of trouble with the United States.
Lord Hamilton said: 1.-The site of the
dock yards at Esquimault belongs to the
crown, and the Canadian government has
received foI her maiesty's ships exclusively
a portion of the harbor. The Canadian
government will provide a site for the
| Notifications and guns and will be respon-
sble for the manning of them. The honora BILE
gentleman'S other questions seemed to
have been put with the object of causing
the Inference that in time of trouble OF
danger Canada will not be ready TO CO. op
crate with the home government. | de-
cline to answer those hypothetical ques
tions which were prompted by suppoSi-
tionS at once lnludIclous and dangerous,
Ferguson jumped to his feet, asking: 50
beg the first of the lord admiralty answer
the query whether in the event of Cauadt
separating herself from her maiesty's EN-
pire, the guns, stores and ammunition az
well as the Notifications will belong L
the imperial government"
The house was in a hubbub when Fergu
son sat down and rang with cries O.
Order" Don't answer" Lord Hamilton
made no reply.
Under Secretary Lowther, in respons
to the inquiries of Mr.. Gourley as to thu
report of the Behring sea commission, il
all the commissioners had signed the Join
report embodying the points on which the
were agreed as regards the protection
and preservation of the seal industry
} The points upon which no agreemen
was arrived at, and these wer
points, he added, that concerned tn
length of the season round Pribyloff is
lands. These questions would be referre
to the arbitration commission for settle
mpnt