Evening journal., 1892-03-11
CANADA UNDER HOT FIRE
Her Loyalty to the Crown Of
Great Britain Questioned.
A SCENE IN THE ENGLISH COMMONS.

A SOhNh I'm IHb hNGLlSH OOMMOhS.
The Government Was Asked what Would
BE the Attitude Of the Dominion in
Case OF War with the United States,
and the Question Remains Unanswered.
LONDON March II. The question Of the
defenses OF the harbor Of Esquimault, on
Vancouver island was raised in the house
Of commons and was discussed with heat by
Lord George Francis Hamilton, first lord Of
the admiralty, and several Liberal inter
rogators. Hardly had this breeze died out
when the Behring sea controversy was
brought before the house by the questions
addressed by Edward Temperly Gourley,
the advanced Liberal member from sunder-
land, and answered for the government by
the Right Hon james William Lowther,
under secretary Of the foreign Office. Ro-
nald Craufurd Munro Ferguson, Liberal
member from Leith, led dr in the matter
Of Esquimaults defenses by asking these
questions of the first lord Of the admiralty:
Some Pertinent Queries.
Does the site Of the navy yard at Esquimauli
belong to Canada or % the CROWN II Canada
also provide the garrison win the work OF
improving the defenses Of the harbor, includ-
ing the plans, engineering and construction, be
done by the Canadian government OF the crowni
What rights OF control, AS regards stores, coal,
the support OF the garrison in case Of need and
harbor anchorage, has the commander of the
, Pacific heeti
Are any advantages secured 20 her majestys
vessels at Esquimault harbor that are not ac
corded them in such foreign ports OF the United
States France or other civilized nationsi In
case the proposed fortihcations should be erect
. cd would the guns mounted there be the prop
/ erty OF Canada or the crowni Will the gnrri
son OF the harbor deienaee receive their orders
! from the imperial or the Canadian government
II the garrison be put under the orders OF the
! Canadian government, viii the home govern
mcut have any means OF assuring itself the sup
! port Of the same for her mnjesty's feet In times
4 of wari II, as has been suggested Canada
should decide 90 cast her Dot with the United
States and bccome Incorporated with that coun-
try would she carry with her the guns aud
| other portable equipments OF the fortihcationsi
While making these interrogatories Mr..
Ferguson was interrupted frequently by
cries of "Ohl ohw ironical laughter and
! other noisy demonstrations from the minis.
terial majority. This was due to the fact
that the last six questions We're 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 the Domin
ion government for support, and that, there
fore, It was foolish 10 place in uncertain
hands n fortified harhor that might be used
as effectively against the empire as for ~.
The impression left by his inquiries and by
. the emphatic Hear hearln with which the
last six were greeted from the opposition
( was that he intended to say that Canada
I had drfted too far toward the United States
to be trusted TO cooperate with the mother
/ country In case Of trouble with the Ameri
5 can government
r They We're Not Answered.
This was Hamilton's view of She matter,
and he declined to answer any except the
first three questions Upon rising to reply "a
Mr. Ferguson's interrogatories he said:
The sita Of tho dockyard at Eaquimault be
longs 70 the crown, and tho Canadian govern
h mont has reserved FOR her maiesty's ships ex
clusivoiy part OF the harhor. The Canndiar
governments win provide the site for the fortih
< cations and the guns, and will be responsible
3 for the manning Of them. The honorable
:. gentleman's other questions seem 10 have beer
+ put with the object OF causing the Inference e
n he drawn that in time Of trouble or dangel
.. Canada viii not be ready to cooperate with th'
!. home government IN the common defense o
both against the enemy that VIII threaten ms
The honorable gentleman must excuse me
therefore II decline TO answer his hypothetica
questions which are prompted by sappositon
q at once injudioious and dangerous.
4. The close OF Lord Hamilton's reply wa
e greeted with Ministerial cheers, which ha'
Z not died away when Mr. Ferguson was on
o his feet asking: d.
D beg The first lord OF The admiralty 10 answe
r my inquiry whether or not IN the event of Can
adas separating herself from her majesty
empire -lcrios of "Ohl ohin Don't answer
the guns stores and ammunition as we'll as tbs
fortihcations viii belong 10 the imperial gov
Q ( ernmcnti
: The house was IN a hubbub when Mr.
{ Ferguson at down, and rang with cries O
D "Orderr Don't answerln Lord Hamilton
b made no reply to Mr.. Fergusons repeate,
G question.
b I. Under Secretary Lowther, Of the foroigi
Office, in response to inquiries OF Mr. Gour
ley as 70 the report of the Behring sea com
mission, said that an the commissioners has
p signed the joint report embodying thI
!. points upon which they were agreed as re
! CARDS the protection and preservation o.
q the seal industry. The points upon which
J. no agreement could be arrived at, aud thesl
. were the main points, he added, concerned
the length Of the season round the pelagil
islands These questions would be referred
to the arbitration commission for settle
! ment.