The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-04
ENGLAND's WEAK POINT.
The Empires Dependence Upon
America for Food.

(From the Toronto WORLDLY
Loyalty and patriotic enthusiasm are no
Bile instincts and we are glad that Cana
dams are 2st lacking in them, but 1t re-
quires more than loyalty and enthusiasm
to create an Empire. We must have ma
terial basis upon which to rear the
structure. While others are celebrating
J Empire Day and the anniversary of our
beloved Queen with fireworks and flags and
parades. we will take advantage OF the oc-
casion to examine the foundation upon
which 1t Is proposed to raise our grand
imperial edifce. We notice at the first
glance that the foundation is weak in one
essential particular. Although our Empire
covers such an enormous territory that the
sun never sets on It,, yet IL is fact that
this mighty Empire is dependent upon for
eigners for large portion OF the food
that its citizens consume. No Empire can
be really great that Is not self-contained.
Fortunately for the British Empire it Ios-
sesseS all the material resources that are
necessary to make 1t absolutely self-sup-
porting.
There is no good reason why we should
be dependent on the United States or on
any other country. There are many good
reasons why We should establish to the
world thahwe are absolutely independent
OF every other nation. and especially the
United States Although the latter coun-
try finds in Great Britain purchaser for
60 per cent Of its agricultural exports. yet
1t maintains decidedly hostile attitude
toward Great Britain. We never know
what the United States is going to do
next. After the Venezuelan episode no
one could foretell how the Boer ENJOYS
would be received by the United States
Government. whether they would be prom
ised assistance or otherwise. Fortunate
ly the United States declared In favor OF
strict neutrality. but the fact remains that
for three or four weeks Great Britain has
been full Of anxiety as to the result Of the
ENJOYS mission to Washington. Great
Britain must rid itself OF this eternal LOOK
ing to Washington. The Americans IRE
seized with the idea that Great Brita:,I
cannot possibly get along without them.
And this is true to large extent. Great
Britain purchases from the United States
annually s70,000,000 worth of pork and
beef, $100, 090, 600 worth of -four and wheat
and other farm products in proportion.
Where would the United Kingdom be il
it were suddenly deprived Of these sup
plies? The effect CT serious trouble with
the United States Is fearful to contemplate.
Our dependence upon the United States
is the weakest point in the foundation upon
which we propose erecting our great impe-
rial structure. II behooves those who are
more directly responsible for the erection
Of the structure to see that the foundation
is strengthened at such points as show
signs of weakness. This continual dread
of United States interference is decidedly
one of our weakest points. and hare it is
that our efforts to strengthen the founda-
ton should first be concentrated.
A pressing duty of imperial statesmen Is
to elaborate policy which will make the
Empire f-sustaining. especially as far IS
foodstuffs are concerned. The farmers
who feed Great Britain should not be DOM
iciled in the United States. but in Canada,
Australia. and India. The money which
Great Britain sends to the United States
for fondstuffs and other agricultural prod
ucts would support a population Of we'll
millions might as well be citizens of CIR, az
Britain as of the United States. The adop-
ton of policy to make the Empire self-
supporting would at once change the atti-
tude of the United States toward Great
Britain. When the Americans found them
selves without a market in Great Britain
for their surplus products they would treat
us more respectfully. The best means We
see of causing the United States to appre-
ciafe the advantages it enjoys in the mar
iet Of Gree. Britain is to make it difficult
for the Americans to secure these advan-
tages. 1t has taken Canada a long time to
discover that the only policy that will So
cure fair treatment from the United States
is thoroughly selfish and aggressive one.
1t is the same kind of policy that must be
adopted by Great Britain IL it ever expects
to establish a great and self-contain ng
Empire.