The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-12

Fielding amendment by a vote Of 100
to 20.
Special Despatch to TIE Sun.
OTTAWA, Sept. 11.--Resuming the de-
bate on the peace treaty w. s. Fielding,
member for Queens and Sheiburne, ~.
S., put the case for the opposition by
authorizing an amendment to the reso-
luton for approval expressing no direct
opinion of Article X. and reading as
follows:
THAT the following words be added
to the resolution: That in giving such
approval this house In no way assents
to any impairment of the existing au-
tonomous authority of the Dominion. but
declares that the question of what part,
| IL any, the forces of Canada shall take
in any war, actual or threatened, is one
to be determined at all times as occasion
may require by the people of Canada
through their representatives in Parlia-
mont"
c. J. Doherty. Minister of Justice,
made an effective reply to Mr.. Fielding
end put forward constitutional argument
in support of his position and the action
OF the Government.
Mr.. Fielding, who is a man OF 20
throughout his speech gave evidence that
questions and not in touch with the i'm
port of war events on constitutional and
international law. He paid tribute tC
tho treaty as a document and to the
men who had framed it. But he had nc
praise for the Canadian Government OF
delegates. On the contrary he said:
| ut is my judgment that the whole
policy for the Government in relation to
the peace conference and in regard to
the proceedings which they are now ask
ing us to engage in is q colossal humbug
designed to impose upon an innocent
Parliament, and TO bamboozle a toe
credulous people to believe that oul
statesmen who went over to Paris did
some Canadian business, a belief for
which there is no foundation whatever
No Business for Canada.
THE gentlemen who represented
Canada are eminent public men of un
questioned ability and large experienc,
in public life of this country and If there
had been any Canadian business to de
they would have done it. They did no
do any Canadian business through NJ
fault Of their own, but simply because
there was no Canadian business to do
Col. c. w. Peck, Skeena, b. c.: 90
would ask the honorable gentleman Il
the sacrifices we made in the field, ant
the fact that we left $1,000 men ovel
there in the fields of France and Elan
lders. did not give us the right to say
something about cond tions of the peac,
that was to ~toncluded?'
Mr.. Fielding: IF there were an.
Canadian interests in the world affecte,
there would be no question of our rights
The sacrifices that were made by tn
500 or 10000 Canadians now lynn
10, Gall -, .rixr
us a claim to any position that we wan
in considering the affairs of the nation
but they do not give US a claim to max
ourselves ridiculous by undertaking L
deal with things Of which we know moth
ing"
n. B. Morphy, Nopth Perth, Ont.
docs the honorable gentleman preten
to say that the Canadian people have n
interest in the peace of the world?"
Mr. Fielding 1--WE are a part of tn
British Empire, and l desire that W
shall always remain 50, and therefore
regret the policy of the honorable gentle
men in pleading for separate recognitio
apart from the British Empire. BY rhei
demand for separate recognition apar
from the British Empire they are begin
ning-they may not have meant it so
J to break up the British Empire"
Mr. Fielding was hopeful for the labo
section of the treaty. for which muc
credit had been given to the Prime Min
lister, and added that "if he had neve
gone there at all Barnes and Gomper
could have been safely trusted to safe
guard the interests of labor"
Claims n Mistake.
Now, I want to say that in my judl
ment not only do 1 think the claims 81
forth by Canada for separate and dis
tinct representation apart from the Bri
ish Empire were a mistake, but l thin
the pretence that We need this ratifict
. ton or approval of the treaty by Canad
is arrant humbug The ratification
Great Britain Is beyond all question et
fective. There cannot be a debate abol
that. / do not believe that any OF m
} honorable friends in the Governmen
and they include some able lawyers WI
stand up and say that in his opinion
we did not pass this resolution the treat
would cease to be effective. One do'
I not need to be a lawyer to see that. A
2 ordinary layman like myself can easi
: see that when the British Empir
through his Majesty the King, rattle
the treaty il is ratified for every pa
. of the British Empire. Therefore.
5 think the procedure here is really b
OF humbug: it is not necessary
l Mr.. Rowell (president of the PRIV
CouunciD MY information is that Il
e Parliaments of South Africa, Austral
4 and New Zealand have been convene
for this month for the purpose OF DEAN
l with the treaty. Whether the session
= ara special or regular | do not kno'
THE South African Parliament Is no
en- session; | think New Zealand alreac
/. mas approved the treaty and 1t is now,
belieye, before the Australian Paril
= ment." ,...,a.
G. T. Doherty, Minister OF Justice
renIv asked what was to be said or
= man who not only made little OF IN
' canadian Minister who went oversee
, 10 represent their country but who spel
an hour and half seeking to belitt
, his country? This treaty will be rat
, fed by his Majesty. ! say Will be- NJ
. has been.
A., but what is his Majesty waiting for
His Majesty knows, If the honorab
gentlemen does not know, that there nj
other nations composing this grei
!, British Empire than the very gre'
limited Kingdom which is at the cent
of IL, and he is waiting for the advl(
; NJ his constitutional advisers in Canad
= And his constitutional advisers In Can
ada are here before this House aslSin
: for it's approval, because they feel an
= ,re sure this House feels with then
that in this, the hrst participation
our own right as a component nation