Evening star., 1921-12-26
CANADA WATCHING
DEBATE ON IRISH.
Developments May Effect Fu-
ture Situation in the
OominionS.


OTTAWA, Ont. December "a
Canada Ia watching the Irish debate
with Keen interest, for the outcome
Of the Irish settlement is likely to
have pronounced effect upon the
dominion as well as the other British
commemorative.
Already there is IL demand here
among considerable political ele-
ment for pressure on the Imperial
government at London for "a con-
stituuonal conference to define the
exact status OF the dominiona
Canada's constitutional position
has been taken as the basis Of ths
Irish settlement. but as a matter of
TACT III some respects the relations
bttweCn the .dominions and Great
Prltain are Very indeterminate, and
if the Irish settlement comes to full
fruit they will have to be accurately
defined.
Issue Wns Deferred.
The late government here agreed
to postpone the accurate definition
Of the various British states. but the
new government is likely to urge
lhS constitutional conference which is
being demanded by the prosressiyes.
one very important question in
volved ia the right OF secession. Can
any of the dominions sever their con-
n,Gtion with the British empire?
Legally the answer il No" but an
affirmative reply was given such Il
question N the British house of COM
sas on March 30, 1920, by MIR. Bonar
IN, when he asserted that the right
- seccue was inherent i'll the
dominion's present status. This
would be good news. undoubtedly, to
some of the Irish elements just at
this time, but authorities as high as
Gen. Jan SmutS have cast doubt upon
the validity of this dictum.
Christmas finds Canada in difficulty
il the orga niZation Of her new gov
crnment. The defeated Meighen gov
ernment is still in Office and Mr. Will
liam Lyon Mackenzie King, the liberal
leader, is still UNCERTAIN about the
character and composition of his cab
met. Mr.. King is well known in the
United States through his connection
with the Rockefeller Foundation and
his work as an Industrial mediator
during the war years.
New Leader In Difficulties.
The new leader has found that his
position has mnay weaknesses. His
main support is from the French
Canadian Catholics. and he evidently
senses the quite probable danger that
at the next election the Protestant
elements will not be hard to mobolize
against Il government largely COM
posed of Catholics So Mr. King has
entered into negotiations with lead
ers of the progressive party for their
support, and has proposed an alliance
on the basis that large part Of the
progressive program will be carried
INTO efect and certain seats in the cab
met al1ocated to progressive leaders.
-But public opinion in the province
OF Quebec, which furnishes the chief
Slrength of the liberal party is not
prepared for such Il radical program
as the progressives are demanding as
tne price OF their cooperation and Mr..
KING may expect a number of bolters
W hat apparently he aims at is the
transformation of the liberal into the
radical party and the negotiations
which are now taking place may have
important results in determining the
future course of Canadian politics
Among other things they may well
promote the revival of the conser-
vative party whose fortunes are at
very low ebb. for the liberal ele-
nients who dislike an alliance with
the progressives, are likely to secede
and Join Mr.. Meighen, the outgoing
premier. who will he provided with a
parliament in the near future.
PrOgressive's Chief Motive.
The chief motive urging the pro-
gressives to contemplate an alliance
is the acute depression now prevail
ing in many farming communities,
especially in the west. The seriou-
ness of presnt conditions is without
parallel. Not only are thousands of
farmers unable to meet their obli-
cations to the banks. mortgage COM
panies and storekeepers, but large
numbers are unable TO purchase the
bare necessities of life.
A movement is now on foot to OBJ
tain federal credits which will carry
over the struggling farmers until
the next crop and the activities of
the American War Finance Corpor2
tion are cited as a precedent.