The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-25
CANADA KEENLY
 INTERESTED IN
 IRISH DEBATES
Settlement of This Question May Have Bearing Upon
 Future of All British DominionS
By J. A. STEVENSON Vanadian Parliamentary Correspondent Special Dispatch to The ARe- Herald

Special Dispatch to The Ase-Herald
 (Copyright, 1921. by The Age-Herald)
 Ottawa, December 24.-Canada is watching the Irish debate with keen interest for the outcome of the Irish settlement is likely to have a pro- nounced effect upon the dominion as we'll as the other British common Wealths.
 Already there is demand here among a considerable political ele- ment for pressure on the imperial government at London for constitu- honal conference to define the exact status of the dominions.
 Csnada's constitutional position has been taken sthe basis of the Irish settlement, but, as a matter of fact In some respects the relations be- tween the dominions and Great Britain are very indeterminate and If the Irish settlement comes to full fruit they will have to be accurately defined.
 The late government Acre agreed to postpone the accurate definition of the various British states, but the yew government Is likely to urge the constitutional conference which Is be- ing demanded by the progressives.
 One very important question in- volved Is the right of secession. Can any of the dominions sever their con- nection with the British empire? Legally the answer Is mo" but an a1- firmative reply was given such question in the British House of Com mons on March 80, 1920, by Mir. -B6o ar- Law when he asserted the right to serede was inherent In the dominion's present status. This would be good news, undoubtedly, to some of the Irish clements just at this time, but authorities as high as Gen. Jan Shuts have cast doubt upon the validity of this dictum.
 New Government
 Christmas finds Canada in diffi- culty in the organization of her new government. The defeated Meighen government Is still in office, and MT. William Lyon Mackenzie King, the liberal leader Is still uncertain about the character and composition of his cabinet. MT. King Is well known fin the United States through his con nection with the Rockefeller Founda- ton and his work as an industrial mediator during the war years.
 The new leader has found his posi- tion has many weaknesses. His main support Is from the French Canadian Catholics and he evidently senses the
 
 next election the protestant ele- ments will not be hard to mobilize against a government largely com posed of Catholics. So MT. King has entered into negotiations with leaders of the progressive party for their support and has proposed an alliance on the basis that a large part of the progressive program will be car J ried into effect and certain seats in the cabinet aliocated to progressive leaders.
 Radical Program But public opinion In the province of Quebec which furnishes the strength of the liberal party Is not prepared for such a radical program as the progressives are demanding as the price of their cooperation and MT. King may expect a number Of bolters. What apparently he aims at Is the transformation of tho lib eral into a radical party and the ne- gotiations which are now taking place may have important results in deter mining the future course of Canad- ian politics. Among other things they may we'll promote the revival of the conservative party whose for tunes are at very low ebb, for the liberal clements who dislike an all liance with the progressives are likely to secede and join MT. Neigh en-. the outgoing premier, who will be provided with a parliament seat ! in the near future.
 The chief motive urging the pro- gressives to contemplate an alliance | is the acute depressions now prevail f ing in many farming communities, esnecjally in the west The serious ness of present conditions is without [ parallel Not only are thousands Of farmers unable to meet their obliga- tions to the banks, mortgage compan- les and storekeepers, but large mum bers are unable to purchase bare nec- essities of life.
 A movement Is now on foot to ob- t tain federal credits which will carry over the struggling farmers until | the next crop and the activities or the American War Finance corpora II 1ft o