The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-30
Old Diplomacy Fights On.


This question, with all that It meant
10 Canada in respect of her progress
and development as a nation, as we'll as
III respect to her voice and part in the
making or avoiding OF future wars, was
constant topic until the days when,
following the signing at Versailles by
the two Canadian plenlpotentiaries, the
empire statesmen began returning TO
their homes. The old diplomacy and the
old doctrine Of Capitalization, defeated
In so far as acknowledgment of the
Dominion's right to have a voice IN and
20 sign the treaty were concerned, were
not prepared to give up the fight.
And SO a series of cables, dated In
July and August OF this year, ant
written by Lord Miner. Secretary of
state for the Colonies, took the ground
that the overseas Ministers, having par
tlclpated with those of Britain in the
3eace negotiations and having signed
the preliminaries Of the peace treaty
the King would have the same con-
! stltutional Justification" in ratifying the
treaty "in respect of the Dominions as
re has in respect OF the United King
DOM"
In other words, one OF the most salient
figures in the old diplomatic and i'm
perial Capitalization school argued that
group of overseas and United King
dom Ministers meeting and celebrating
in secret might make whatever treaties
affecting peace and war they chose, and
these needed ratification only by his
Majesty the King, and not by the Par
| liaments Of the self governing peoples OF
the empire. The fact that these Min.
| listers might be completely out of touch
or harmony with public feeling in their
IfNHf fria x,Nk
this Miner idea.
Sir Robert Borden's Stand.
Sir Robert Borden, intensely national.
list and an incorporating champion oil
Canadian autonomy, vigorously chal.
lenged this view. declaring, in a mes
sage dated July 20, 1919. that there IL
considerable doubt whether, under mod.
ern constitutional practices the Kinp
should ratify without first obtaining thu
approva! OF Parliament" He especially
differed from the view that the sigma.
ture OF the Dominions Ministers to tn,
peace treaty was equivalent to advice
to ratify. asking the pertinent question
DO you regard this as holding good II
the case Of the signature of the United
Kingdom plenipotentiaries?'
There were afterward messages from
|
view was unchanged. one of them say
ing that severe pressure being put upoi
us from Paris made it impossible tina
ratification could be held back afte
September IT. To this Sir Robert Dor,
den replied. on August 4, that Parlia
ment was called for September /, add
ing: II cannot emphasize too strongly
the unfortunate results which would
certainly ensue from ratification befor,
the Canadian Parliament has had al
opportunity of considering the treaty"
Happily there weVe delays on the par
of the other Powers, and the British
Empire was among the first to ratify tn,
treaty, thus avoiding what might hav,
been an awkward situation. A slmilal
difficulty. however, may arise at an,
time. In that event there is no question
that the people of Canada would un
doubtedly be a solid unit for the posi-
lion taken by Sir Robert Borden. name
ly, that In matters OF peace or wa
which AFFECT this country the decision
must rest. not with the King or witt
the British Cabinet. but with the Par
Lament Of Canada