The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-26
CANADA WATCHES
 WITH INT TEREST
 US. BONUS PLANS
Soldiers of Canada May Also Demand Compensation. Government May Have
 to Plead Poverty
By J. A. STEPHENSON Canadian Parliamentary Authority Special Dispatch to The Age Herald

Ottawa, Ont, February 25.-The Canadian government is watching with interest the progress of the plan to give to American soldiers bonus for their services in the late war.
 When peace came, the Canadian parliament sanctioned very libera provisions for the returning army. 4 general service gratuity was given to every soldier: repatriation and civil establishment schemes were care fully planned and efficiently executed and soldiers settlement board which has placed about 25,0 veterans on farms under favorable terms, was established. The scale of pensions if not so high as the American was reasonably good. But the various veterans organizations pressed for d further monetary bonus in addition to the gratuity. The coalition and the Meighen governments both resisted the demand and had the backing of intelligent public opinion. But the liberal party at it's national conven- tion in 1919 expressed a tentative sympathy with the idea of a bonus and some liberal candidates pledged themselves during the late cam paign to reopen the question.
 Plead Poverty
 If therefore, a bonus Is granted to the American soldiers, their Canadian comrades are certain to renew their demands for similar reward and the King government which will be placed in a difficult position. will be compelled to plead the greater pover- ty of Canadian treasury as its only Tsxa r,w~ .l. farm bloc or the executive vetoes the whole bonus plan at Washington, few tears will be shed in cabinet circles in Ottawa.
 The Irish element in Canada, most of whom are supporters of the liber- al party, have been pressing the King government to send representative to Dublin but have made little head way. Until the thorny problem of Canadian representation at Washing ton is settled. the new administration will not essay fLA lher adventures in the diplomatic field Canada at pres ent maintains as a Jason with the im- perial government high commission CT in London; he has a veriety of duties and henceforth will have charge of the immigration and other offices kept in London by the Ottawa government The post is always held by a political supporter of the gov ernment and our King has just ap- pointed to it MT. P. c. Larkin a lead ing merchant of Toronto whose teas nave made his name a household word throughout Canada and in many American states. He is a multi-mil- honaire who has always retained democratic sympathies and his selec- ton is generally praised
 st. Lawrence Project
 The St Lawrence deep water way project Is a subject of constant dis cussion in Canada but public opinion is decidedly luke warm to an enter prise which calls in the present state of Canadian finances for a further capital expenditure of 125 million dol lars as a minimum. Every cent of it would have to be borrowed. Figures which have been compiled by com potent authorities show that the an nual value of the production of the American territory which would benefits likely to accrue to each. the times greater than that of the paraliel area in Canada and it has been sug- gested that if the financial burden involved were allotted between the etwo countries in proportion to the benefit likely to accrue to each, the prospects of Canadian GO operation would be enhanced. There could be periodical revision of the ratio of the burden as altered conditions changed the ratio of the benefits.
 Senator Kings resolution in the American Congress is not taken seri- ously in Canada and is the area where the English speaking farmers who once settled the whole of the district known as the eastern town ships of Quebec. are making their last stand against French Canadian flood which has overwhelmed them in many counties. Senator Kings zeal for territory which would give his country control of half the channel of the St. Lawrence down to tide water. would if carried out to it's logical conclusion. bring within his net most of the city of Montreal which stands on the southern end of